Experience an unforgettable afternoon, rain or shine, at the NASA Wallops Visitor Center on Monday, April 8, from 1-5 p.m. EDT! Safely witness the awe-inspiring solar eclipse, catch the thrilling launch of three Black Brant IX sounding rockets for the APEP-2 mission, and explore engaging solar-related activities throughout the visitor center.
While this combined viewing event is exciting for some, it may not be ideal for all. Enjoy safe solar viewing and the three sounding rocket launches knowing that there is a designated sensory-friendly quiet area available for our guests during this time. The supervised quiet area will include dimmed lighting, seating, a reflection area, and touch items to explore.
At the Wallops Visitor Center, the moon will block a maximum of 81.4% of the Sun’s light during this phenomenon. One sounding rocket will launch for each segment of the solar eclipse beginning approximately at 2:40 p.m. EDT and ending around 4:05 p.m. EDT, yielding about 45 minutes between each rocket. Note: solar eclipse and rocket launch viewing are dependent upon clear skies.
Solar Eclipse Timeline for the Wallops Island area:
Start – 2:06 p.m. EDT
Maximum (81%) – 3:22 p.m. EDT
End – 4:34 p.m. EDT
Join us for a celestial celebration you won’t want to miss and be sure to follow us on Facebook and X on April 8 for the most up-to-date event information! For those traveling to our visitor center, all vehicles MUST fit within a standard parking spot for this event; no large, oversized vehicles or buses will be allowed entry.
Prepare for SAFE solar viewing during this year’s solar eclipse by checking out NASA’s Eclipse Safety Page. Eclipse glasses will be available for free during this event while supplies last.
