Public Information Project of the Total Solar Eclipse of November 3, 1994 in Paraná State, Brazil

Summary

This project had two principal objectives: to communicate safe methods to observe the Sun, so as to prevent ophthalmological accidents to people during the total solar eclipse of 3rd November 1994, and to collaborate with the primary school teachers in the science classroom, illustrating the classes, motivating the students to observe sky phenomena.

Introduction

In January 1993, a commission called “ECLIPSE 94” Executive Commission, of the Brazilian Astronomical Society was created to coordinate assistance with arrangements for observing the total solar eclipse of 3rd November 1994, that in Brazil was total in the western part of Parana State, in Santa Catarina State and in a Rio Grande do Sul zone. Professional astronomers from Brazil and from several parts of the world were mobilized to observe this eclipse. The biggest interest in this phenomenon was because the next one of this type, in Brazil, will only occur in the year 2046, and will be visible in Paraiba State. The general coordination was done by Prof. Dr. Oscar Matsuura, from the Astronomical and Geophysical Institute of University of São Paulo.

Following the suggestion of the Working Group on Eclipses of the International Astronomical Union, this commission decided to amplify their action, assuming the articulation of a large publicity campaign about eclipses, close to the common people. Such a campaign was aimed at giving technical and astronomical information and at preventing ophthalmological accidents to people during the total solar eclipse of November 3, 1994. Utilising this fact, we decided to use this campaign to collaborate with the teachers, principally in high school, illustrating science classes, and motivating the students to observe sky phenomena.