“A solar eclipse has been known to end a war” says David Prud’homme, PhD, who will appear as the next Saturday Speaker for VIU ElderCollege.
Prud’homme will talk on Saturday, May 6, at Nanoose Place from 10 a.m. to noon about the great solar eclipse of 2017, which is coming August 21. He will tell the audience how to view the eclipse, which will be visible as a partial eclipse on Vancouver Island. Prud’homme also intends to explain why a solar eclipse happens, why it’s rare, and the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.
Prud’homme is a popular ElderCollege instructor known for his passion for astronomy, sense of humour and use of technology to demonstrate the magnitude of our universe.
He had a passive interest in astronomy until 1995 when, during a stint with the World Bank in Russia, a comet rekindled his interest in exploring the universe. He is a former president of the Edmonton Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. In 1999, Prud’homme was only the 150th person in Canada to be awarded the Messier Certificate for having observed 110 specific deep-sky objects. The certificate is named in honour of Charles Messier, an 18th-century comet hunter.
There has not been a total solar eclipse in North America for 38 years so Prud’homme is just one of the thousands of astronomy fans who are preparing for this great eclipse. Prud’homme and his wife, Linda, like to combine adventure travel with eclipses, including a trip to the Libyan Sahara in 2006. For the Aug. 21 solar eclipse he will be setting up scopes on the waterfront in Qualicum Beach for public viewing of the partial eclipse.
The great eclipse will follow a west-to-east path across North America, beginning just after 9 a.m. on August 21, 2017.
The total solar eclipse will actually darken the skies through the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina along a stretch of land about 113 kilometers wide.
Prud’homme says he is not a hard core “eclipse chaser” but will have stories to tell about the people who go to the ends of the earth to watch a great eclipse. He will give tips on how, and where, to view the eclipse and how to watch the eclipse safely. He has also ordered eclipse glasses, which will be sold at cost at his presentation on May 6th .
Prud’homme promises that the audience will be engaged and intends to have fun with the subject of the great eclipse.
The admission fee for the Saturday Speaker event is $10 cash at the door, $5 for university students and free to secondary school students.
Nanoose Place is located at 2925 Northwest Bay Rd.
— Submitted by VIU ElderCollege