ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona will host a community viewing event for the total solar eclipse that will take place on Monday, April 8.

As the moon passes in front of the sun, it will cast a shadow over Earth’s surface, and Pennsylvania is in the direct path of this celestial event.

Viewers are invited to gather outside of the Slep Student Center beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eclipse glasses will be available to the first 300 people on a first-come, first-served basis. The eclipse is expected to begin around 2 p.m., with totality between 3:12 and 3:27 p.m.

There will also be hands-on science activities and a Planet Walk, a scale model of the solar system, to take a stroll through.

The event is free and open to the public. It is hosted by Penn State Altoona's physics department and sponsored by the Student Initiated Fee for Activities.