Solar Eclipse Festival on the National Mall
Celebrate and observe the solar eclipse that will be visible all across North America on Monday, April 8!
The National Air and Space Museum, in collaboration with other Smithsonian museums, NASA, NOAA, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory presents an outdoor festival with activities for all ages.
The event will run from 12 to 4 pm along the National Mall between 4th and 12th Streets. Browse the many activity stations to view the Sun in a variety of safe telescopes, and explore the different educational offerings.
The eclipse will be visible in the Washington, DC area between 2:04 pm and 4:32 pm. Maximum eclipse will be at 3:20 pm, with the Sun 87% covered by the Moon.
This is an outdoor event. In the case of extreme weather, check this page for updates.
About Eclipse Glasses
Event attendees are encouraged to bring their own solar eclipse viewers to the Festival.
A limited number of solar eclipse glasses will be handed out during the event.
Activities will be provided by several organizations, including the event collaborators, NASA, NOAA, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Several Smithsonian museums will offer activities including the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Asian Art, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Gardens, and the Smithsonian Science Education Center. In addition, the National Building Museum will offer an activity.
Not in the DC area?
The eclipse will be visible across most of the United States, with the path of totality stretching from parts of Texas to Maine. This will be the last total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States for 20 years.
On the National Mall between 4th and 12th Streets
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