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Whitmore-Bolles News

Solar eclipse coming April 8!

Solar eclipse

The solar eclipse is coming April 8, 2024! The last time our area could view a solar eclipse was August 2017. During that partial eclipse, Dearborn experienced about 78% coverage. This solar eclipse will be a near-total eclipse, with the moon estimated to cover about 98% of the sun. 

While witnessing this phenomenon, it’s crucial that everyone takes the appropriate precautions to protect their eyesight. Certified-safe solar eclipse viewing glasses are one way to safely watch the eclipse. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient protection for viewing a solar eclipse. We will be sharing this message with our students and encourage parents to also discuss the importance of eye safety with your children and to remind them to not look directly at the sun during the solar eclipse unless they have the proper eyewear.

What is a solar eclipse? It is when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, casting a long shadow on Earth. Everyone must take proper precautions to observe what is happening safely. The eclipse will begin around 2:00 PM and reach its maximum for our area at around 3:14 PM. It will all be over by a little before 4:30 PM, making the whole process about 2.5 hours long. This means the solar eclipse will still be taking place after the end of the school day. That is why it is so important for parents to also remind their children about the dangers of looking at the eclipse without the proper eye protection.  

Enjoy and be safe!