HR0136 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0136 LRB100 11272 MST 21611 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible from the west coast to the east coast of the continental United States; and

WHEREAS, This will be the first total solar eclipse visible in the continental U.S. since February 26, 1979, over 37 years ago; and

WHEREAS, The extent of the eclipse across the U.S. will provide a new generation with the opportunity to view this amazing and exciting celestial event, when the sky grows dark and the Sun's corona (the usually unseen "crown" around the Sun) shines as bright as the full Moon; Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and several bright stars become visible, the temperature drops, and animals become eerily quiet; and

WHEREAS, The entire great State of Illinois will experience at least a partial eclipse, with at least 85% of the Sun's disk blocked by the Moon, so that Illinoisans unable to experience totality can still observe evidence of this event; and

WHEREAS, The 2017 solar eclipse will likely be seen by more people than any other eclipse in history; and

WHEREAS, The University of Illinois Department of Astronomy, the only public astronomy department in the State, is a leading institution in the study of gravitational lensing, predicted by Albert Einstein and first observed during a total solar eclipse in 1919, thereby confirming Einstein's Theory of General Relativity; and

WHEREAS, The year 2017 will mark the sesquicentennial anniversary of the founding of the University of Illinois in 1867; and

WHEREAS, The University of Illinois Department of Astronomy is hosting an eclipse viewing event in partnership with the Village of Goreville, one of the closest towns to the greatest duration; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Illinois University Department of Physics is hosting an eclipse viewing event in Carbondale; and

WHEREAS, Many other communities along the path of the total solar eclipse will be hosting events for Illinoisans, and out-of-state visitors, both domestic and international; and

WHEREAS, In 2024, another total solar eclipse will be visible from Southern Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Southern Illinois as the best place on Earth to view the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, and prepare for the 2024 eclipse, and we commend the University of Illinois Department of Astronomy for their research and for preparing the people of Illinois for this historic event; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the University of Illinois Department of Astronomy, the Southern Illinois University Department of Physics, and the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois.