Ron Garan
Celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse at the Hudson River Museum!
A total solar eclipse is the rarest and most spectacular of all astronomical events. On Monday, April 8, our region will experience one—the last chance we’ll get until 2079! Celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event at the Hudson River Museum! Enjoy an array of special programs for all ages leading up to the event, including day and evening in-person talks with former NASA astronaut Ron Garan.
See the full list of programs at hrm.org/eclipse.
Saturday, March 23, 11am–5pm- Super Solar Eclipse Saturday
Get ready for the Solar Eclipse on April 8 with a special talk by former NASA astronaut Ron Garan! Join this Yonkers native for an awe-inspiring view of space and unbelievable stories from the International Space Station and hear how impending eclipses continue to reveal deep truths about our planet’s rare place in the cosmos.
Finally, experience the new planetarium show Moonbase: The Next Step (11:30am, 2pm, and 3:30pm). Saturday, March 23, 12:30pm
Expedition Space: Reach for the Stars with Astronaut Ron Garan
Join former NASA astronaut Ron Garan for a talk suitable for all ages. Garan will share an awe-inspiring view of space and unbelievable stories from the International Space Station. Learn how seeing Earth from orbit changes an astronaut’s perspective forever and how impending eclipses continue to reveal deep truths about our planet’s rare place in the cosmos.
In this talk, visitors will discover:
• What astronauts experience during the thrilling 8-minute blast-off into orbit around Earth.
• Why the view of Earth takes your breath away when you finally reach the weightless wonder of space.
• What it’s like to see 16 sunrises every day while orbiting our planet.
• Why gazing down on Earth’s glittering atmosphere fills astronauts with wonder.
• How an elevated orbital perspective reveals humanity’s interconnectedness in a profound way.
Simultaneous ASL interpretation will be provided.
Pre-order autographed copies of Ron Garan’s books at rongaran.com/hrm for pickup at the HRM on March 23. His books are also available for purchase in the Museum Shop.
Purchase tickets at HRM.org. Programs featuring Ron Garan are generously sponsored by Betsy May Stern with additional support from Yolanda F. Johnson and Christina O’Neill.
Saturday, March 23, 7pm
The Orbital Perspective: An Evening with Astronaut Ron Garan.
Join us for a special evening with NASA astronaut Ron Garan, including a cocktail reception. He will share his breathtaking tales of gazing down in wonder at Earth’s shimmering atmosphere and intricately interconnected ecosystems from the awe-inspiring vantage point of space. Discover how this sight fills astronauts with wonder about the miracles required to sustain life on our planet. Learn how the approaching eclipse highlights Earth’s precious singularity. Includes cocktail reception. Purchase tickets at HRM.org.
About Ron Garan: Former NASA astronaut, serial entrepreneur, humanitarian, and highly decorated combat fighter pilot Ron Garan racked up 178 days in space and more than 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits around our planet. During that time, Garan conducted four spacewalks in support of the construction and maintenance of the International Space Station. Prior to those space journeys, he lived and conducted research on the bottom of the ocean in the world’s only undersea research laboratory, Aquarius. Before reaching the summit of his career, Ron, a former test pilot and graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School, taught hundreds of elite fighter pilots how to “up their game” as a flight instructor at the prestigious USAF Fighter Weapons School, the Air Force version of Top Gun. Garan is also a graduate of Yonkers Public Schools.
Garan currently serves as CEO of ispace technologies U.S., Inc., a global lunar resource development company specializing in designing, building, and operating lunar landers.
Sunday, April 7, 11am–5pm
Super Solar Eclipse Sunday
Get ready for the once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse, happening tomorrow! Learn all about the eclipse in a live planetarium show. Make a pinhole viewer in a Junior Docent–led workshop. Practice looking at the Sun safely through a solar telescope. Sit for unique solar and/or lunar face painting by Agostino Arts. Look at artists’ depictions of the sky in Collection Spotlight: The Art of Skywatching. Plus, pose in front of a special eclipse backdrop for a memorable photo. Join us in awesome anticipation!
Monday, April 8, 2–5pm
Super Solar Eclipse Viewing Party!
Today’s the day! The HRM opens its doors from 2–5pm with fun and educational activities inspired by today’s once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. In our region, the eclipse starts at 2:30pm, approaches 91% totality at 3:25pm, and ends at 4:36pm. The next total eclipse that can be seen from our region will be in 2079!
Eclipse Viewing in the Courtyard
View the eclipse’s progress with safe tools, including two solar telescopes that reveal incredible details of the Moon’s jagged silhouette and sunspots on the face of the Sun. Observe the eclipse with pinhole viewers, mirror projections, exclusive HRM eclipse glasses (while supplies last), and other safe methods. Recommended for ages 8+. Please note, the Museum is not responsible for the cancellation of outdoor activities that are dependent on the weather; all general admission ticket sales are final.
Eclipse Live Stream in the Lobby
Watch the eclipse live stream from locations along its path over North America, including museums, schools, and observatories, from Texas to Maine. Feeds will be displayed on the video monitor in the HRM Lobby, accompanied by a space-themed soundtrack.
Open-Door Eclipse Presentation in the Planetarium
Stop by the Planetarium for an ongoing, open-door presentation on the unique nature and history of Earth’s eclipses, and why they have been so avidly watched by astronomers. We’ll use the Planetarium’s digital projection system to fly out into space and get an astronaut’s-eye-view of the event as it happens.
Capture the Moment in Greene Education Center
Pose for a photo-op in front of a solar eclipse—no special glasses required!—and take a picture you’ll treasure forever (or at least until the next eclipse in 2079)!
Visit HRM.org for more information.
