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No. R-259. House concurrent resolution commemorating Vermont’s historic April 8,
2024 total solar eclipse.
(H.C.R.200)
Offered by: Representatives Farlice-Rubio of Barnet, Andrews of Westford, Andriano of Orwell, Anthony of Barre City, Arsenault of Williston, Austin of Colchester, Black of
Essex, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Boyden of Cambridge, Brownell of Pownal, Brumsted of
Shelburne, Burke of Brattleboro, Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Carpenter of Hyde Park,
Carroll of Bennington, Casey of Montpelier, Chapin of East Montpelier, Chase of Chester,
Chase of Colchester, Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs, Christie of Hartford,
Cina of Burlington, Coffey of Guilford, Cole of Hartford, Cordes of Lincoln, Demar of
Enosburgh, Demrow of Corinth, Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Essex Junction, Dolan of
Waitsfield, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Galfetti of Barre Town, Garofano of Essex, Goldman of
Rockingham, Goslant of Northfield, Graning of Jericho, Hango of Berkshire, Harrison of
Chittenden, Headrick of Burlington, Higley of Lowell, Hooper of Randolph, Hooper of
Burlington, Howard of Rutland City, Hyman of South Burlington, Jerome of Brandon,
Krasnow of South Burlington, LaBounty of Lyndon, Lalley of Shelburne, LaMont of
Morristown, Leavitt of Grand Isle, Logan of Burlington, McCann of Montpelier, McFaun of Barre Town, McGill of Bridport, Minier of South Burlington, Morgan of Milton, Morris of Springfield, Morrissey of Bennington, Mrowicki of Putney, Nicoll of Ludlow, Ode of
Burlington, Peterson of Clarendon, Pouech of Hinesburg, Priestley of Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Rice of Dorset, Roberts of Halifax, Sammis of Castleton, Scheu of
Middlebury, Sims of Craftsbury, Small of Winooski, Stebbins of Burlington, Stevens of
Waterbury, Taylor of Milton, Toof of St. Albans Town, Torre of Moretown, Walker of
Swanton, White of Bethel, Williams of Barre City, and Wood of Waterbury Offered by: Senators Clarkson, Hardy, Harrison, Kitchel, McCormack, Vyhovsky,
Watson, and Wrenner Whereas, a syzygy is the alignment “of three celestial bodies in a gravitational system,”
and this cosmic phenomenon often results in a total solar or lunar eclipse, and Whereas, eclipses occur around the world with a degree of regularity, but the visibility of a total solar eclipse in Vermont is a rare event, the sky having last offered this astronomical extravaganza nearly a century ago in 1932, and Whereas, on April 8, 2024, residents of and visitors to much of the northern half of the State will be offered the unusual chance to witness a total solar eclipse, with great viewing in a corridor extending from Burlington to St. Albans in the western portion of the State to
Newport and St. Johnsbury in the Northeast Kingdom, and Whereas, in Burlington, the solar eclipse will commence at 2:14 p.m. and reach its totality between 3:26 and 3:29 p.m., and Whereas, if the skies are clear, the effect will be to reduce the city’s light level to dusk conditions, and, if the sky is cloudy, the eclipse will create middle-of-the-night illumination conditions, and VT LEG #376054 v.1
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Whereas, the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and the University of Vermont are partnering with other academic institutions to provide a safe and exciting eclipse experience for the State’s college students, faculty, and staff, and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium is educating Vermonters in advance of the eclipse, including on the importance of wearing special glasses if viewing the event directly, and Whereas, eclipse gatherings are being held throughout the viewing zone, and Vermonters would be wise to take advantage of this special occasion as the next total eclipse visible in Vermont is projected to occur in 2079, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly commemorates Vermont’s historic April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and to the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.
VT LEG #376054 v.1