May 12, 2012 | Kenji | Leave a comment Joshua Tree National Park will offer a front-row seat for one of the biggest celestial events of the year. On May 20, large areas of the western United States will experience an annular solar eclipse, an event last seen in the United States in 1994. In the hours before sunset, the Earth’s moon will pass in front of the sun casting a giant shadow across the land. Eclipse_Bulletin To mark the occasion, Joshua Tree National Park will host a special Solar Eclipse Event 051112 giving the public great views of this highly anticipated event. Solar eclipse activities will take place at the Oasis Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms. The Visitor Center is located at 74485 National Park Drive. Joshua Tree National Park is in the zone to experience a partial (near total) eclipse. Here is the schedule of activities for the Solar Eclipse Event: Noon Telescopes with special filters will be set up to allow viewing of the sun. Long before the eclipse is visible, solar observers will be able to see sunspots and any solar flare activity. 4:30 p.m. Rangers will offer presentations about the solar eclipse and will show participants how to make a pinhole viewing device for watching the eclipse. 5:25 p.m. Approximate time for the start of the partial eclipse. Public viewing of the eclipse will take place through telescopes and through a video astronomy presentation. Special glasses for viewing the eclipse will also be available. 6:38 p.m. Peak of the eclipse for the Joshua Tree area occurs. 7:44 p.m. Sunset 8:00 p.m. Night sky program presented by National Park Service rangers and park volunteers. For more information about the May 20 eclipse at Joshua Tree, the public can visit the park website at: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?eventID=516859-307230 Information at viewing the solar eclipse at other National Park locations can be found here www.nature.nps.gov/features/eclipse Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterest