Dress like it’s Christmas for Totality 2024

Enhancing Your Total Solar Eclipse Experience with Color Choice

The Purkinje effect, discovered by Jan Evangelista Purkyně, explains how our perception of color shifts during dim light conditions. During a solar eclipse's totality phase, this effect comes into play, making shorter-wavelength colors like green and blue appear more vibrant. Conversely, longer-wavelength colors like red and orange may appear darker.

To make the most of this phenomenon, attendees are encouraged to wear green or red to enhance their eclipse experience. These colors stand out against the darkened sky, providing a visually captivating contrast. Embracing the Purkinje effect adds a layer of scientific curiosity to the viewing experience, highlighting the intricate interplay between light, color perception, and celestial phenomena.

As we await the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, let's remember to marvel at the cosmic spectacle and embrace the wonders of science. Whether you choose green, red, or another color, prepare to be awed by the beauty and mystery of the eclipse.

Totality 2024 is only a couple weeks away and the tickets move in greater numbers each day so snag yours before they’re gone,

Poster design by Sadie May’s Art & Design

This event is brought to you by Sing For Science, PLAFE Place & The G Lodge and is supported by the Simons Foundation as a part of its ‘In the Path of Totality’ initiative.

For more information, visit www.inthepathoftotality.org.

The Simons Foundation’s Science, Society and Culture division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science — whether for the first time or a lifetime. Through our initiatives, we work to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, foster connections between people and science, and support environments that provide a sense of belonging.

The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Since its founding in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation has been a champion of basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement. “We believe in asking big questions and providing sustained support to researchers working to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Through our work we make space for scientific discovery.”