Total Solar Eclipse

UTA "Solar-bration"

On April 6, the College of Science and UTA Planetarium hosted a free concert at Brazos Park featuring three excellent area bands (Chloe Jobin, Cameron Smith & The Slings, and Brigitte Mena). Then on April 8, thousands of visitors from near and far joined the UTA campus community in taking in the spectacular sight of the first total solar eclipse over D-FW since 1878. It was an awe-inspiring sight and a day to remember!

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Map for the total solar eclipse at UTA

Campus Event Locations

Viewing locations, parking, eclipse glasses, and more.

A map showing the times of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse

Frequently Asked Questions

You can view the eclipse at the following locations:

  • UTA Planetarium Mall
  • Brazos Park
  • University Center (UC) Mall
  • Library Mall
  • Spaniolo Drive/College Park Center

Current permitholders will not be charged additional fees to park on campus during the event.  Notify the cashier that you have an active parking permit to be let in. License Plate Recognition (LPR) will be utilized to verify active permits.

Your usual parking lot will likely fill to capacity earlier than normal. With a parking permit, you will be allowed to park in other areas of campus that your permit normally doesn’t provide access to. The closest lots to the viewing areas are expected to fill by 11 a.m., with the possibility of the reduced-rate and remote lots along Greek Row to remain available throughout the day.

While our solar-bration is free to attend- you still need to pay for parking. Here are the steps to register for parking in advance:

Visitor paid parking will be available in most university lots and garages, except for spaces that are marked “Reserved”. Campus signage will direct you to available parking areas as you approach campus.

Navigate to one of these three addresses, and then dynamic on-site signage and staff will direct you to the closest available parking space.

  • West Campus: 804 UTA Blvd, Arlington, TX, 76019
  • College Park Garages: 500 S. Center Street, Arlington, TX, 76019
  • 1119 S W St, Arlington, TX 76010

Visitor parking for the event is $10, and may be purchased in advance or after you have parked on campus using the on-site QR codes. All parking is cashless.

It is never safe to look directly at the Sun, except during the short period of totality. When looking at the Sun before or after the period of totality, make sure to use proper protection, because looking at the Sun with your naked eye can cause permanent eye damage. It is only safe to use a specialized filter on a telescope or a pair of binoculars, or a pair of eclipse glasses marked with ISO 12312-2 standard. These filters reduce the Sun’s rays by millions of times! It is not safe to use sunglasses, camera film, or even a foil wrapper! There are other ways to observe an eclipse such as indirect viewing with a pinhole projector, or even simply listening to the crickets chirp as the sky darkens.
A limited number of eclipse glasses will be made available to the UTA campus community the week prior to the eclipse. We will offer one pair of glasses per person. Glasses will be available at the information desks in the University Center and the Commons on April 2, 3, 4 and 5 while supplies last.

We will also have a limited number of glasses available at the viewing locations on the day of the eclipse – while supplies last.

If you wish to guarantee that you will have glasses, or you need more than one pair, you may purchase them from the UTA Planetarium at this link: Purchase eclipse glasses.
Be patient as you approach campus. It is uncertain how many visitors will arrive on campus, so please be flexible so that UTA can support this once-in-a-lifetime event. Off-campus visitors are expected to start arriving on campus around 9 a.m. for the eclipse festivities.  Event visitors will pay for event parking, so expect delays entering parking lots across campus.
 
Spaniolo Drive will be closed from 1st Street to 3rd Street from 6 a.m. to 4.pm. on Monday, April 8. Expect delays and detours. Parking and Transportation staff will be scattered throughout campus to assist all vehicles in finding the closest available parking spaces from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Please follow their directions.
 
Traffic is anticipated to be at peak congestion immediately following the total eclipse, at approximately 2 p.m.  Plan for extra time to navigate around campus and the DFW region.
 
At the conclusion of the event, Office of Parking and Transportation will have dedicated departure routes to assist vehicles departing campus and navigating back to Cooper Street. Expect detours and delays if departing during that time.