One year after the Mazatlán sky darkened in an impressive cosmic embrace, this Tuesday, the Ángela Peralta Theater relived the magic of the total solar eclipse of April 8th, 2024, with the national premiere of “In the Shadow of the Eclipse.”
The documentary—produced by Pedro Sierra Romero, Deputy Director of Audiovisual Production at the General Directorate for the Dissemination of Science, UNAM—captures the scientific, social, and emotional impact of the astronomical phenomenon that placed Mazatlán in the spotlight of the world, having been designated by NASA as the best geographical location to observe and document this historic event.
The premiere was attended by officials from UNAM, UAS, the Instituto Municipal de Cultura, Turismo y Arte de Mazatlan and the public interested in reliving this exciting experience.
Enrique Vega Ayala, Director of Cultural Planning, welcomed the scientific and academic community and the public and introduced the officials who presided over the event.
Representing Mazatlán, Mayor Estrella Palacios Domínguez, Raúl Rico González, General Director of Cultura, recalled that a year ago, the Ángela Peralta Theater hosted an event that merged science and the arts, organized by the Mazatlán Astronomical Society and the Instituto de Cultura, as a prelude to the total solar eclipse.
A stellar phenomenon of this magnitude can only be understood with your heart in your hand and the ability to be amazed by what happens…it was an opportunity to be together, he said.
Phenomena such as the total solar eclipse generate wonder and foster the creation of new connections and ways of describing the experience, the municipal official added, finally inviting everyone to enjoy the national premiere of the documentary produced by UNAM through the General Directorate for the Dissemination of Science, in collaboration with the Institutes of Astronomy, Geophysics, and Marine Sciences and Limnology, UAS, and the Instituto de Cultura de Mazatlan.
Dr. Nidia Yuniba Brun Corona, representing the Rector of the UAS, Jesús Madueña Molina, thanked UNAM for the documentary, which offers an in-depth look at the impact of the total solar eclipse that occurred on April 8th, 2024.
She emphasized that due to this astronomical phenomenon, UAS promoted the creation of a network of monitors and the delivery of workshops to raise awareness about the importance of eye health.
Dr. Manuel Suárez Lastra, Director General of Science Outreach at UNAM, highlighted the uniqueness of a total solar eclipse and the scientific opportunities it offers in areas such as astronomy, geophysics, and marine biology. He emphasized the need to demystify misconceptions about eclipses and how these events promote social unity.
Suárez Lastra thanked the institutions behind the documentary “In the Shadow of the Eclipse,” invited the public to download it for free on YouTube, acknowledged the support of the institutions involved in its production, and expressed “the privilege of being in this beautiful venue.”
Yair Krongold Herrera, Director of the UNAM Institute of Astronomy, commemorated the first anniversary of the eclipse and highlighted the profound impression it left on the city and its inhabitants.
He emphasized the massive influx of visitors and the rarity of the event, which will not be repeated in Mexico for 27 years. Krongold reflected on the opportunity this extraordinary celestial phenomenon provided to contemplate our existence and place in the universe, and highlighted the importance of the documentary film, which captures the scientific, geophysical, and social aspects of the historic eclipse.
After the speeches, the theater curtain was raised for the screening of “In the Shadow of the Eclipse,” which chronicles scientists’ passion for this great event.
The documentary records the phases of the eclipse and the behavior of plankton during the event, highlights the outreach and training efforts for safe observation, and shows footage from the “Eclipse. Symphonic Vision” concert, presented by CULTURA at the Sister Cities Park to celebrate this historic event.
