Solar Eclipse Unifies OkState Campus

The first day of school. It's a day that is usually pretty hectic as students, faculty and staff adjust to their new schedules. OSU resembles a beehive on this day, as all the busy students buzz around campus buying books, socializing with friends and figuring out what building their next class is in. It's a day of excitement and adventure, two things most students embrace fully as the typically uneventful summer months come to a close.

August 21, 2017, proved to be even more exciting than any other first day of school, well, ever. For the first time in over 20 years, a solar eclipse was set to take place that afternoon. 

The frenzy surrounding the eclipse was astounding. All over the country, people were eager to view this fascinating astronomical event. However, there were many experts who expressed that looking directly at the eclipse, similar to looking directly at the sun, would cause eye damage. NASA warned that the eclipse should only be viewed through solar filters or hand-held eclipse viewers.

Students were eager to view the eclipse but had concerns about where to watch it and how to view it correctly. Luckily the OSU Library offered three safe ways of witnessing the eclipse. A viewing party took place that Monday afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Beverly Clerico Plaza, where students could view the eclipse through filtered glasses or with a larger projection. And for people who may have had class during that time, the event was livestreamed on OState.TV as well as the OSU Facebook page.

The Library passed out the 200 pairs of eclipse glasses at 11:30 a.m. However, students began lining up outside hours before the event was set to start, eager to get one of the 200 pairs of glasses. Quickly it became apparent that 200 pairs of glasses would not be a sufficient amount, as the expected 400 people tripled to well over 1,200 attendees. The growing crowd was no problem for the OSU Cowboys, as many people began showcasing the friendly Cowboy spirit by sharing glasses with those around them. The 360 view of the Beverly Clerico Plaza during the eclipse provides a firsthand look at the amount of people out and about that afternoon.

In addition to eclipse glasses, OSU Library used one of its telescopes during the viewing party. The telescope was a great way to look at the eclipse in a public way, as opposed to personal glasses. Students surrounded the telescope to get an enlarged view of the eclipse as it was projected on to a shaded flat surface.

There are four types of telescopes offered at the library's Creative Studios, as well as astronomical binoculars. Students are welcome to check any of the telescopes out for up to three days at a time. Telescopes are one of many categories of tech gear available at the Edmon Low Creative Studios. 

The solar eclipse was also livestreamed on OState.TV and the OSU Facebook page for those unable to see it in person. Within 24 hours, the Facebook livestream reached nearly 70,000 people around the world. Viewers from Australia, Ecuador, Spain and Botswana tuned in to watch the event in realtime. OState.TV uploaded the rebroadcast of the solar eclipse to their website. 

The eclipse peaked at 1:06 p.m. in Stillwater. On any ordinary day, campus is usually quiet around that time. People are either briskly walking to class or hiding indoors to escape the summer heat. However, a rare solar eclipse was more than enough reason for people to migrate outside. Students and faculty members could be seen sharing viewing glasses and discussing the eclipse with one another, bonding over shared interest and curiosity.

With every new year comes new supplies, a new workload and a new routine. It's not every day that a first day of school includes a rare solar eclipse, though. On this day, the hustle and bustle of the first day seemed to come to a halt as members of the OSU family found common ground through knowledge and innovation.

What did you think of the event? Comment below to share your solar eclipse experience.

Posted by Tatum Wallace, Electronic Communications Intern for OSU Library Communications

Expanding Tech with Telescopes at the OSU Library

In response to our recent “What If The Library...” feedback campaign, Edmon Low Creative Studios now boasts a new addition to its hardware lineup: telescopes. The Tech To Go desk now offers a range of equipment for audio, photo, video and nighttime sky viewing.

The decision to purchase telescopes was based on student votes. Other options included checkout for Google Glass, more rolling whiteboards and free faxing. Along with telescopes, the Library also added bean bag chairs and more study rooms on the first floor.

There are currently three types of telescopes available for checkout. The Meade ETC 90 features a removable optical tube, which provides versatility to the model. It has an Audiostar handbox controller with a built-in speaker that offers information about objects in the telescope's’ view. Ideal for learning while stargazing, this is also the best choice for adventures requiring easily portable equipment.

The Meade Infinity 102 is great for beginners. It has everything necessary for amateur sky searchers. Its slow motion option allows the user to track moving objects while capturing bright and clear images. It comes with three eyepieces for varying levels of magnification, and the red dot viewfinder makes locating planets and constellations a breeze.

The Celestron C6N provides incredibly refined images of wide views by using diffraction-limited parabolic primary mirrors. This telescope is high quality and performs as such. It is operated by computer control technology, giving it a vast database and extensive knowledge on a number of identifiable objects. This piece of exploration equipment is ideal for space education.

The Celestron SkyMaster Binoculars present a high quality experience. This device is intended for extended viewing of astronomical and terrestrial scenes, so it would be an ideal gadget for searching across vast landscapes or spotting objects from long distances. Easy to use and equipped with user-friendly capabilities, these binoculars could change the way you see the world.

In addition to the new telescopes, Tech To Go continues to offer GoPros, cameras, microphones and projectors, most of which are available for three day checkout.

Post by Jennifer Barnett, E-Communications Intern for OSU Library Communications