As you know, we will be experiencing a rare solar eclipse on Monday.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse, people must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. MERSD students and staff have received viewing glasses that were generously donated by MERHS parent Shelbi Schimpf, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard Smithsonian, through a grant from NASA.
It's estimated that the eclipse will begin at about 2:16 p.m., and end at about 4:38 p.m. At its peak, about 3:30 p.m., about 93.3 percent of the sun will be obscured.
We want everyone to be safe, so we are sharing the following NASA tips:
It is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.
Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use. If torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device.
Always supervise children using solar viewers.
Eclipse glasses do NOT make it safe to use cameras, cell phone lenses, binoculars, telescopes, or other optical devices. You should only use these devices if you have special solar lens filters. Eclipse glasses will not prevent serious eye injury when using cameras or optical devices.
Remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to prevent skin damage. Even during a partial or annular eclipse, or during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the sun will be very bright. If you are watching an entire eclipse, you may be in direct sunlight for hours.
Due to the timing of the eclipse, some students may be in transit between home and school. Please remind your children to view the eclipse only through eclipse glasses.
For those who are interested, an afterschool Community Viewing Party is being hosted by the Essex Elementary fifth-grade parents (more information here). Keep an eye out for emails from your building principals and the athletics director regarding school specific safety measures and activities.
