CSN’s Planetarium among options for viewing Monday’s solar eclipse

Las Vegas Valley residents have options when it comes to celebrating Monday’s solar eclipse.

The Planetarium at College of Southern Nevada is offering locals front row seats to view the celestial event of the last 100 years.

Events will begin Monday, the day of the eclipse, at 9 a.m. and will end at noon on CSN’s North Las Vegas campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. The planetarium will host free events with expert astronomers, telescopes, educational displays and live streams of the eclipse from multiple states throughout the country including those experiencing totality.

Weather permitting, Las Vegas will experience a 72 percent partial eclipse, with the peak viewing at 10:32 a.m., planetarium manager Andrew Kerr said. According to CSN, the 2017 solar eclipse will be the first to cross the entire continental United States in 99 years and will last from 9:09 a.m. until 11:52 a.m.

The planetarium on Monday will give away 200 pairs of eclipse viewing glasses, with additional pairs available for purchase for $2. Those interested in purchasing glasses can stop by the shop at the planetarium Monday morning. The shop will only have 1,500 pairs available. For more information call 702-651-4138.

The next solar eclipse visible from the continental United States will be April 8, 2024.

Other events

Lake Mead viewing party

Lake Mead National Recreation Area will hold a free viewing party at the visitor center from 9 a.m. to noon.

At Lake Mead, 71 percent of the sun will be eclipsed. The eclipse will begin at 9:09 a.m. and end at 11:53 a.m. with a peak at 10:28 a.m.

Visitors can safely view the eclipse with rangers at the Lake Mead Visitor Center using a solar telescope and solar glasses.

For more information about the viewing party, call 702-293-8990.

Red Rock Canyon eclipse event

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area will host a special event at the Visitor Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The event offers an opportunity to learn about and view the solar eclipse. Eclipse talks begin at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

No registration is necessary, and all ages are welcome.

Have your eclipse and eat too

— The Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay offers a chance to have brunch with a view from 9 a.m. to noon. Watch the moon cast its shadow from the Foundation Room patio. The $40 brunch includes themed cocktails from Mount Gay Eclipse Rum and protective glasses. For more information, call 702-632-4803.

— Denny’s restaurants will serve $4 all-you-can-eat Mooncakes on Monday in celebration of the solar eclipse. The “fluffy, lunar-inspired” buttermilk bites will only be available for one day, according to a news release.

— A chocolate glaze will eclipse Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed Doughnuts in celebration of the solar eclipse on Monday. All Las Vegas Krispy Kreme shops will be selling the treats. The chocolate eclipse donuts will be available during evening hotlight hours Saturday and Sunday, and during hotlight hours all day on Monday, according to their promotinoal email. For more information, visit www.krispykreme.com/Eclipse.