Why every solar eclipse viewing event needs a disco ball
Article metadata
Volume: 19
Content Type: Best Practices
Keywords: Eclipse, Evaluation, Hands-on, Informal Education, Unconventional
Article Authors
- Valerie A. Rapson
- Alex Pietrow
- Robert J. Cumming
- Jill Burns
- Ali Cotton
- Yashashree Jadhav
- Maria D. Kazachenko
- Casper A.L. Pietrow
- Dennis Schatz
- Elliot Severn
- Sundar Srinivasan
- William Thornburgh
- Andrea Warkentin
- Hayley Yasui
Abstract
Solar eclipses offer unparalleled opportunities for public engagement in astronomy. Large groups of people often gather to view eclipses, and these events require affordable and easy-to-use tools to safely observe the Sun. One unique way to observe a solar eclipse is by using a disco ball. Here, we present an analysis of the experiences of educators who used a disco ball as a solar projector during various public outreach events. Through a survey conducted shortly after the April 2024 total solar eclipse and the March 2025 partial solar eclipse, we collected data on the use, engagement, and perceived educational value of a disco ball projector from 31 individual events. The results suggest that disco balls were not only affordable and safe, but also popular and educational.
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Citation:
Rapson, V. A., Pietrow, A., Cumming, R. J., Burns, J., Cotton, A., Jadhav, Y., Kazachenko, M. D., Pietrow, C. A. L., Pietrow, L. M. A., Schatz, D., Severn, E., Srinivasan, S., Thornburgh, W., Warkentin, A., Yasui, H., & Olander, G. (2025). Why every solar eclipse viewing event needs a disco ball. Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17181556