Consulate participates in the Total Eclipse in La Laguna during Space Diplomacy Week

Accompanied by a delegation of family and officials from the United States Consulate in Monterrey, Roger C. Rigaud participated in the festivities in the La Laguna region to witness the total eclipse that crosses North America. He culminated his visit by witnessing the eclipse from the Torreón Planetarium along with approximately 400 guests.

Torreón, Coahuila and Gómez Palacio, Durango located within the path of totality of the eclipse, became key locations for this celestial event. NASA designated the Torreón Planetarium as one of the official live streaming sites for the eclipse.

This momentous occasion not only offered an astronomical spectacle, but also serves as a platform to encourage community participation and international cooperation.

In the morning, Roger C. Rigaud participated in the eclipse festival on the Conalep campus in Gómez Palacio. This vibrant event brought together several hundred students, representatives of astronomers associations and enthusiastic members of the local community. As a sign of the Consulate’s commitment to this celebration, a donation of 600 solar eclipse glasses was made to Conalep, ensuring safe viewing for all attendees.

During the festival, the diplomat spoke a few words highlighting the relevance of scientific exploration, cultural exchange and cross-border collaboration: “my sincere hope is that some student among this large audience finds inspiration in today’s events. Not only observe the Moon from the Earth’s surface, but also be, in the future, on it during a trip to outer space. Let him transform that experience into scientific discoveries for the benefit of all humanity,” Rigaud expressed with emotion.

The eclipse coincides with “Space Diplomacy Week” held by the United States Department of State, highlighting how the United States is advancing space exploration, science and technology, and international collaboration for the benefit of humanity. In 2020, NASA established the Artemis Accords, a common set of principles for peaceful space exploration. Mexico and Canada have joined more than 30 other countries to sign the agreements. Through Artemis, NASA plans to take the first woman, the first person of color and its first international associate astronaut to the Moon, to make new scientific discoveries and explore more of the lunar surface.

During his visit to La Laguna, Rigaud took the opportunity to share some videos about José Hernández, a Mexican-American astronaut, son of migrant workers from Michoacán, with the hope that his story and the eclipse will inspire some of the young people to pursue careers in science. and technology.