Clingmans Dome Solar Eclipse Event

Bob Carr, Photo Credit

Clingmans Dome Ticketed Event Information

What to expect while you are waiting for the eclipse

A variety of activities and presentations will be offered at Clingmans Dome before and after the eclipse. Storytellers, a solar physicist, an astronaut and others will take the stage to share their insights. Meanwhile, activity tables, telescopes and citizen science programs will be ongoing throughout the day. You can also choose to experience the eclipse on your own by venturing to one of the many areas accessible apart from the main event. The Clingmans Dome tower will be limited to MEDIA ACCESS ONLY, however, there are many opportunities for broad, landscape views from the parking area and along the 0.5 mile trail to the tower.

NASA will broadcast live from Clingmans Dome. The broadcast will be available to watch at anytime after the eclipse. Learn more about the eclipse, stage presentations, and the park by visiting the NASA 360 livestream.

Reliable cellular service is not available in the Clingmans Dome area under normal circumstances. With the expected influx of visitation to the region, do not plan on having any cellular coverage in the Clingmans Dome area, or parking areas, during or immediately following the event.

The park will provide solar eclipse viewing glasses for ticketed participants. Specially equipped telescopes will be available on-site.

Be aware that several media outlets will be filming the day's activities for use on local and national television broadcasts. As a member of the audience you may appear during any of the live broadcasts or other recorded filming productions.

Citizen Science

Park scientists are encouraging visitors to help collect data immediately before and after the eclipse. You can download any of the apps below to your cell phone before coming out to the park, collect data while you are here, and upload data when you return to connectivity.

Life Responds (California Academy of Sciences) - Many people have noticed changes in animal behavior during a total eclipse - birds stop singing, squirrels retreat to their dens, and cats and dogs act confused. In this opportunity for research, you will make scientifically valuable observations of many aspects of this behavior. Join the California Academy of Sciences in conducting research into behavioral changes in plants and animals during the 2017 total eclipse.

GLOBE Observer - What happens in the atmosphere and on Earth's surface when the Sun's light is blocked, even temporarily? By collecting data during the eclipse, you can help explore how the eclipse changes atmospheric conditions. You will also be contributing to a database used by students and scientists to study the effects of the eclipse on the atmosphere. Even if you are not in the path of totality, you can provide useful comparison data. General citizen scientists can observe clouds and air temperature with GLOBE Observer.

Eclipse Soundscapes - The Eclipse Soundscapes project, a partnership between NASA and the NPS, will use a specially designed app to allow citizen scientists to record environmental sounds before, during, and after the August 21, 2017 eclipse. These recordings will be shared across the world in order to give everyone the opportunity to experience the awe of a total solar eclipse.