As the drumbeat of excitement starts to build for a nearly 90-percent solar eclipse coming to the commonwealth next month, Virginia Department of Education officials are encouraging local school districts to make sure youth know what to do, and more importantly what not to do, during the event.
The April 8 eclipse will begin in the Washington region about 2:04 p.m., reaching its maximum point (the sun being 89 percent covered) at 3:20 p.m. and concluding around 4:30 p.m.
“[School] districts should plan to educate students, parents and staff about how to safely view the eclipse as damage to eyes is possible while viewing the eclipse,” state education officials wrote in a March 21 missive to local districts, pointing them to resources from the National Science Teaching Association.
School leaders were urged to impart to students that “regular sunglasses, swimming goggles and most camera filters are NOT safe for looking directly at the sun” at any time, including during eclipses. Those wishing to watch the eclipse should use pinhole projectors or certified solar-viewing glasses instead.
State education leaders also pointed school leaders to the Website https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8 for specifics on the eclipse, which to one degree or another potentially could be visible to as many as 652 million people worldwide, or 8 percent of the world’s population. (About 44 million live in areas where there will be a full eclipse.)
In the U.S., the eclipse will be viewable in a swath running southeast from Texas to Maine.
Viewing will be dependent on weather conditions, and odds are a little challenging for the local area. Timeanddate.com reports that, over the past quarter-century, April 8 has been a cloudy day just over 60 percent of the time in the Washington region.
Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. Each year brings between two and five, and the cycle for individual eclipses (solar or lunar) calls for a repeat performance every 6,585.3 days (a little over 18 years), according to Astronomy.com.
Park Authority to Host Eclipse-Viewing Events: The Fairfax County Park Authority will host eclipse-viewing activities at locations throughout the county on Monday, April 8.
“Join us for a safe viewing experience that will include both pre- and post-eclipse activities, games and demonstrations,” Park Authority officials said.
• Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (2-4 p.m.).
• Burke Lake Park (2-4 p.m.).
• Historic Huntley (1:30-4:30 p.m.).
• Turner Farm Park (1:30-4:30 p.m.).
Event admission is $10 per person. Each location will have a limited number of eclipse-viewing glasses, and sun-spotting scopes will be available to view the eclipse thanks to donations from the Fairfax County Park Foundation. Participants are encouraged to bring portable chairs and blankets.
For information and registration, see the Website at bit.ly/49nMH3j.
