Tag: First Tennessee Park

NASA Scientist Scott Bolton Describes the Science and the Mystery of Eclipses

Wendy Wilson

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — A total solar eclipse is often attributed to various things. Coincidence. Magic. Divine intervention. The rare event is so grand that even scientists are moved to use words beyond the realm of science. Scott Bolton of NASA used all the words above when talking to reporters Monday at First Tennessee Park. The city of Nashville hosted a sold-out eclipse viewing party at the ballpark, home to the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team. Nashville was the largest U.S. city in the path of totality, along which the moon for a few minutes completely blocked the sun. Bolton is the principal investigator for NASA’s Juno Mission, a program designed to learn more about the planet Jupiter. He was at the ballpark to speak to those in the crowd about the dramatic, once-in-a-lifetime event that would unfold before their eyes. While a solar eclipse is in some ways mystifying, it’s also something that can be predicted with surprising accuracy. “We know the moon’s orbit and we know the earth’s orbit very well,” Bolton said. “We measure these things over many years.” In the past, people were limited by hand calculations. But computer technology enables us today to make accurate calculations far into…

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Nashville Was the Place to Be for Many Eclipse Watchers Monday

Wendy Wilson

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — In preparing for Monday’s total solar eclipse, Mark Holloran read that from where he lives in Franklin, he could see 99.8 percent totality. That wasn’t good enough, he and his wife decided. “We drove in to get the last .2 percent,” he said at First Tennessee Park, home of the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team where an eclipse viewing party was held to watch as the moon completely covered the sun. Nashville was the largest U.S. city in the path of totality. Holloran was monitoring the progress of the eclipse using an app on his cell phone as he and his wife stood in line to buy eclipse t-shirts as the eclipse was just beginning. Jenny Holcomb stocked up on t-shirts for herself, her husband and her 14-year-old son, who were at the ballpark with her. The family lives in the Nashville area in Donelson. “It’s exciting,” she said of the chance to see the eclipse at an event so close to home. The 8,000 people at the ballpark came from 35 states and 10 countries. There also were more journalists than the Sounds stadium normally attracts, including a news crew from TRT World, a new…

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Total Solar Eclipse A Hit At Nashville Ballpark

Wendy Wilson

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The total solar eclipse on Monday amazed a sold-out crowd at First Tennessee Park north of downtown. The park is home to the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team. It was one of many venues where people from near and far came to watch the solar eclipse in Nashville, the largest U.S. city in the path of totality, when the moon completely blocks the sun. “Nashville knows how to throw a party, and we’re doing that here,” Mayor Megan Barry told reporters by the third-base dugout before the eclipse. She was joined by Booster the Hot Chicken, the Nashville Sounds mascot. Though a chicken, Booster was a ham in front of the cameras, posing playfully and wearing what appeared to be gigantic eclipse glasses. Barry said that the 8,000 people at the ballpark came from 35 states and 10 countries. More than one million visitors were in town for the eclipse, she said. Adam Nuse, general manager for the Sounds, said players were happy to be in Nashville for the eclipse and not on the road. The Sounds were set to play a home game later Monday against the Iowa Cubs. “It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Sounds…

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Nashville Plans Solar Eclipse Viewing Party August 21 At First Tennessee Park

Wendy Wilson

  A solar eclipse viewing party will be held Monday, Aug. 21 at First Tennessee Park north of downtown Nashville, according to a press release from Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. First Tennessee Park is home to the Nashville Sounds, and the minor league baseball team is working with the city of Nashville and the Adventure Center Center to host the party. This will be the first time since 1918 that a total solar eclipse will sweep across the U.S. Nashville is the largest city in its path. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth and the moon fully or partially blocks the sun. The viewing party will include science demonstrations and music from the Nashville Symphony. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. and Barry will welcome the crowd at 11:00 a.m. Everyone attending will receive special solar glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse. Seating is first-come, first-served, excluding club level and group areas. The eclipse will begin at 11:58 a.m., with totality beginning at 1:27 p.m. and lasting for nearly two minutes. After the viewing party, the ballpark will be cleared at 2 p.m. and will re-open at 3 p.m. for the Nashville Sounds…

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