The Francis Malcolm Science Center (FMSC) with the only planetarium found north of Bangor has come to the attention of the National Academies and NASA due to the assistance of Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and the success of the eclipse activities. for educators and students, in preparation for the April 8, 2024 total eclipse.   

Educators, traditional and nontraditional were invited to come to one of two sessions of Trek to Totality focusing on training the trainers about an eclipse.   Programs featuring the fulldome program “Totality” produced by Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in conjunction with Rice University and ePlanetarium was shown to 1,992 people. In additions to viewing “Totality,” students attending the science center on classroom field trips were given instruction on protecting their eyes during the eclipse, what to expect during totality, and how the animals will react during the three minutes of darkness.