Sam Sampere, lab manager in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Physics, was featured in a WSYR NewsChannel 9 story about the partial solar eclipse visible in Syracuse on August 12. While the event did not produce the dramatic darkness experienced during the total solar eclipse of April 2024, local residents still had the opportunity to observe the moon partially covering the sun.

Equipped with a specialized telescope and eclipse glasses on campus, Sampere helped community members safely view the celestial event.

Explaining why people should take time to observe the eclipse, he said, “Because it’s there; that’s the only reason to come out and look at this thing, because it’s there and the fact that we can see this rare, unusual, natural phenomenon in our location. Come out and look at it! Be curious, check it out!”

Watch the NewsChannel 9 interview.