Homestead National Monument of America will be hosting three days of festivities for the total solar eclipse in August/NPS, Mel Mann

Homestead National Monument of America will be one of the prime locations for experiencing the total solar eclipse on August 21, and not just because it’s in the path of totality. NASA has designated the Nebraska park an official viewing location for the natural phenomenon, and the space agency’s scientists and camera crews will on site for three days of activities, presentations, and exhibits, including a program from the creators of the PBS Kids series “Ready Jet Go!”

“Working with NASA is a great partnership for us,” said Mark Engler, superintendent of Homestead National Monument of America. “This partnership will provide visitors traveling to Homestead during the eclipse weekend an experience that they will likely remember for a lifetime.”

The three full days of activities begin Saturday, August 19, and run through Monday, August 21, when the eclipse will pass through the park just after 1 p.m. local time. All programs and events are free. To access the monument for these activities, visitors may need to use a free shuttle/bus system being put in place by park partners, including the city of Beatrice, Friends of Homestead, and others.

NASA’s extensive presence will feature presentations from scientists and educational professionals, Science On A Sphere exhibit shows, hands-on activities, and citizen science. Topics will include exoplanet research, astronaut training, planetary defense, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. For a full list of presentations, visit the park’s website. On the day of the eclipse, NASA TV will broadcast the eclipse and interviews with local experts from Homestead.

A special celebration for families will feature the team behind the hit PBS Kids animated series “Ready Jet Go!” The star of the show, Jet Propulsion, will be joined by NASA scientist and series consultant Dr. Amy Mainzer, creator Craig Bartlett and his Ready Jet Go! Band, and executive producer Dete Meserve. Their fun and informative science and astronomy programs will include demonstrations, a performance by the Ready Jet Go! Band, a Q&A and autograph session, and explanations of what to look, feel, and listen for as the shadow of the solar eclipse descends over Homestead.

“‘Ready Jet Go!’s’ mission is to inspire and nurture a lifelong love of space and science learning among today’s kids, building on their natural curiosity about astronomy, science and technology,” Mr. Meserve said. “We are delighted to be joining the Homestead National Monument of America team in exploring the amazing upcoming solar eclipse with visitors and their families in such an immersive and entertaining way.”

Friends of Homestead and the Hevelone Foundation helped make the “Ready Jet Go!” program possible.

The Science On A Sphere exhibit features spectacular animations from NASA observations of the sun, moon, Earth, other planets, and more. The sphere, which appears to be floating and spinning in midair, is used in presentations to help explain complex environmental processes in a way that is intuitive and captivating. Special digital shows with Science On A Sphere will take place throughout the weekend at the Homestead Education Center.

Homestead is also one of 30 launch locations for the Eclipse Ballooning Project – a collaborative effort to live stream footage of the moon's shadow during the eclipse from the edge of space to the NASA website. This is a feat that's never been done before. The Eclipse Ballooning Project includes 55 teams from 30 state-based NASA Space Grant Consortia institutions. Teams will be spread out along the eclipse path of totality – each launching a high-altitude balloon equipped with special cameras and student experiments. At Homestead, the team will originate from New Mexico State University.