Planning underway for 2017 solar eclipse

Members of the Hot Springs County community are currently making plans in advance of the 2017 solar eclipse. Tourists from all over are expected to come to Hot Springs County and surrounding communities because Wyoming will be in the eclipse's area of totality, meaning the entire sun will appear as a black dot as it passes behind the moon.

Representatives from the area's state parks, Chamber Board, and Shoshoni officials attended a meeting on Wednesday that sought to find the best way to plan and prepare for the upcoming event.

The planning group spoke with Thermopolis native Scott Mecca, who currently works in the Albany County School District IT department. Mecca, who has also taught science classes in Wyoming high schools, is an amateur astronomer and was able to give group members an idea of what they should plan for in August 2017.

Mecca mentioned the idea of "star parties," which are amateur astronomy get togethers where dozens or sometimes hundred of amateur astronomers gather and set up telescopes to observe the night sky. Chamber Board Executive Director Meri Ann Rush suggested that the group plan a "star party" for the upcoming summer as a test run, considering the Lander, Riverton, Shoshoni and Thermopolis communities will be directly in the line of totality for the eclipse.

"You're going to see the entire world looking at Wyoming for the next six hundred days," said Mecca, noting that surrounding communities have a special opportunity to provide a unique experience to community members and tourists alike.

Representatives from both Hot Springs and Boysen State Parks are planning on organizing campgrounds in advance of the influx of tourists expected. Mecca gave organizers various tips for amenities "star party" goers might expect, like a generator, alongside other necessities like bathrooms and water.

Mecca also noted that local science teachers can apply for grants from a National Solar Observatory-University of Wyoming joint venture that offers telescopes and education about eclipse to schools in the zone of totality.

"Ultimately you're going to want to have a place where people could step up and take a look," Mecca said, suggesting that telescopes should be purchased for the eclipse and any "star parties" state parks wish to hold.

The next step for the planning committee is contacting school officials and looking for grant money to procure telescopes and related equipment that will encourage tourism.