The UNT Society of Physics Students (SPS) is excited to announce that they will be hosting upcoming events in celebration of two solar eclipse events, occurring October 14 and April 8. Both will involve free events on the Denton campus complete with eclipse glasses for guests, as well as demos, educational activities, and light refreshments.

SPS is an undergraduate student organization that strives to build a welcoming and supportive community founded on the spirit of curiosity that draws so many creative minds into the field of physics. They organize activities ranging from constructive, academic workshops to fun, community-building events.

"When pursuing a major in physics, it is especially important to form connections with professors and peers to overcome the challenges that this rewarding field presents," said Alexis Niemiera, the democratically elected Communications Officer for SPS. "We're mostly physics majors but we welcome inquisitive students from any major who want to explore physics!"

"Our events include social meetings, seminars on things like grad school and scientific ethics, and occasionally trips off campus," said SPS co-president Liam Daly. "Our goal is primarily to provide a welcoming community for all students and to foster a curiosity and passion for science."

An annular solar eclipse is an eclipse that happens while the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away, it appears smaller than the Sun and creates a recognizable "ring of fire" effect. The last annular solar eclipse occurred in 2017.

"At its core, a solar eclipse is the result of an intricate choreography between the Earth, Moon, and Sun, where all three celestial bodies align during a new moon, the phase in which the Moon appears as a dark silhouette against the sun's luminous disk," said Alexis. "An annular solar eclipse is a subtype that occurs when the Moon is near apogee, the farthest point in its elliptical orbit from Earth. These conditions make annular solar eclipses a unique and infrequent phenomenon!"

This eclipse will be visible in Denton on Saturday, October 14, beginning at 10:30am. Free eclipse glasses and activities will be available on the lawn outside of the Curry Hall and the Physics' Building throughout the duration of the eclipse. The event is sponsored by the UNT College of Science and the Department of Physics. A simultaneous event will be held off-campus at UNT's Rafes Urban Astronomy Center located in Ponder.

SPS also looks forward to hosting a big event next year for the total solar eclipse, which will occur on April 8, 2024. Stay up-to-date with all of SPS's upcoming happenings featured in their monthly newsletter and on their website, where interested parties are also invited to follow the org on social media or join their discord server.

To learn more about becoming a registered member of the UNT Chapter of the Society of Physics Students, visit https://spsunt.square.site/