"For the first time in 99 years, the narrow band of the Moon’s shadow will cross the United States from coast to coast, making a total solar eclipse for those in that narrow path."

Today on The Academic Minute, Jay Pasachoff, professor of astronomy at Williams College, discusses today's rare astronomical event.

Partial and annular phases of solar eclipse on May 20, 2012, photo by Brocken Inaglory.

On August 31, 2017, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the continental United States from coast to coast for the first time in 99 years. The partially eclipsed sun will be visible from all of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 72% coverage in the Berkshires. On Saturday, September 10, 2016 you can get a sneak preview of next year’s eclipse as well as stunning views of other recent solar eclipses in a fascinating illustrated talk by Williams College professor and solar eclipse expert Jay Pasachoff at Berkshire Community College.

The talk, entitled “Solar Eclipses: Spectacular Events with One in the U.S. in 2017,” is presented by OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, as part of its 2016 Distinguished Speakers Series. Learn the best ways to view the 2017 eclipse, and enjoy beautiful images and spectra of other recent eclipses, including total eclipses in Easter Island (2010), Australia (2012), Gabon (2013), Svalbard (2015), and Indonesia (2016). Dr. Pasachoff will also discuss the interesting solar phenomena-such as Baily’s beads, the diamond-ring effect, and totality-visible during an eclipse.

Tickets for the talk are $10 for OLLI members, $15 for the general public, and free for BCC students and youth 17 & under. To register call 413-236-2190 or purchase tickets online at http://berkshireOLLI.org or at the door. The talk will be held in the K-111 lecture hall in the Koussevitsky Arts Center on the main Berkshire Community College campus, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield, Mass.

Jay Pasachoff is Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Hopkins Observatory at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts. A veteran of 64 solar eclipses to date, he is Chair of the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group on Solar Eclipses. His recent research includes studies of the dynamics of the solar corona studied from the ground at eclipses and from spacecraft, and the temperature and structure of the corona over the solar activity cycle from images and spectra. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, and NASA. Pasachoff received the 2003 Education Prize of the American Astronomical Society and the 2012 Janssen Prize of the Société Astronomique de France.

Next in OLLI’s Distinguished Speakers Series will be a talk by Abigail Von Schlegell on philanthropy trends on Saturday, October 1st, and Pamela Tatge, new Executive Director of Jacob’s Pillow, on October 22nd, both also at Berkshire Community College.

OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, provides stimulating educational, social and volunteer opportunities designed especially by and for people fifty years old and up. OLLI has over 1,000 members throughout the greater Berkshires and offers over 80 classes, special events, workshops and speakers a year.

OLLI’s fall semester of classes begins Monday, September 12, with over 20 courses throughout the Berkshires. For more information about OLLI’s fall semester and OLLI membership, please visit berkshireolli.org, call 413-236-2190 or email [email protected] to request a catalog.