COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 2
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
NEWS
EXPERINCING HISTORY- Eclipse viewers from all over gathered at TTU’s Overall Field to view the historic eclipse together.
Abbey Markus | The Oracle
10,000 flock to Tucker Stadium to witness eclipse totality
-Continued from front page By ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION BY BETH BILES
Oracle Staffer As the moon’s shadow passed over the continent, specially equipped telescopes and cameras recorded not only the physical appearance of the sun and moon, but temperatures on earth as well by Citizen CATE participants. The experiment combined data from multiple points into 90 minutes of information that covered the complete path of totality, Kidd said. Kidd said the eclipse proved a rare opportunity for scientists to study the sun’s corona – the aura of plasma that surrounds the sun - and solar flares. “Being able to correctly predict solar flares
is important,” said Kidd, since a flare aimed in Earth’s direction could potentially knock out a portion of a power grid. “We’re really bad at predicting them right now though. We just don’t have enough information.” Witnessing such an event gave some students time to think about their existence. “It was very eye opening about how great our world is and how, oh, that’s God,” Kristen Dillon, a junior accounting major said. Although the eclipse provided scientists an opportunity for study and research - the natural phenomenon attracted the curious from all over the state, nation and world. Kidd said some Cookeville visitors came from Japan, Australia, Kuwait and the Netherlands.
The watch party at Tech included vendors outside the stadium selling food, eclipse merchandise and educational experiences explaining the technical information behind the solar event. Watchers also received a free pair of special glasses to safely watch the moon slowing cover the sun – from hiding just a sliver to totality and back again. Visitors were encouraged to drop their glasses into designated recycle bins so the equipment could be used students in the physics and astronomy to view future solar events. TTU alumni include two astronauts – Roger Crouch, class of 1962 and Barry Wilmore, class of 1985. Wilmore also serves on the TTU Board of Trustees.
TTU students speak on experincing the eclipse “It was different. I can’t explain it. It was just something that I’ve never seen before. The event at Tech was cool and I really liked it. It was different. I can’t explain it. It was just something that I’ve never seen before. The event at Tech was cool and I really liked it.” – Brandon Mason, freshman, basic business major
“It was very eye opening about how great our world is, and how, oh that’s God.” -Kristen Dillon junior accounting major
“The eclipse party was great! I went there with my girlfriend and we went up in the stands so that we could get a better 360 degree view of the horizon. When we were only seconds from totality people slowly started getting louder and louder and started clapping and screaming, including myself. It was a very unique two and a half minutes looking up at the sun’s corona and just in awe of all the planets visible with the naked eye.” – Joshua Kovalchik- TTU junior, computer science
“Tech did a really good job getting students and outside organizations involved for the viewing party. It was a unique experience getting to see something so spectacular with the entire campus.” – Hope Duke, senior, civil engineering
“My family used it as a bonding experience and we all got together. It was a once in a lifetime event and we wanted to make the opportunity count.” – Alison Mahabir- TTU senior, physical therapy major
“They had the Tech graduate that works for NASA come and talk and they had a bunch of, like, professional people that really know about the solar system come and explain it to us.” -Bonnie Hamrick- TTU junior nursing major
All photos and quotes gathered by; Baylie Bodiford, Heather Daugherty, Marcelo Gonzales, Taylor Harling, Abigale Markus, Hayden McMillen, Issac Wright