Free Admission Solar Sunday at the County Museum

The San Bernardino County Museum will be open on Sunday, August 1, with free admission sponsored by the San Bernardino County Museum Association. Special “out of this world” programs will focus on astronomy.

Live solar viewing is scheduled between 1 and 2 p.m. with Chris Clarke and the San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers. Because it is not safe to look directly at the sun, visitors will be able to see flares and sunspots on the surface of the sun through live video feed. Although it is impossible to predict what the sun will be doing, giant Sunspot 652 has been a potent source of solar activity in recent days.

At 2:30 p.m. a NASA/JPL ambassador will present an illustrated program to bring visitors up to date with the latest information from the Saturn Cassini mission. The satellite has successfully passed through the rings of Saturn and is now in orbit around the huge planet, sending back unprecedented images of Saturn and its moons.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Museum Youth Club invites visitors to get involved with astronomy with a variety of hands-on activities designed for families with children between 3 and 12 years of age. There is a $1.00 materials fee per person.

While at the museum, visitors can see special exhibits including “Native American Traditions: Hopi Katsinas,” sponsored in part by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and “Worth a Thousand Words,” images from the Sun-Telegram and Redlands Daily Facts newspaper negative collections.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free, and the facility is handicapped-accessible. The museum’s Garden Café will be open for lunch and snacks between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call (909) 307-2669 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.