Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders and Principal Heather McKillop are pleased to share that students at ConVal High School are preparing for next week’s solar eclipse.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on Monday, April 8, 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.
In celebration of the eclipse, ConVal High School Science Department has put together various events to get students engaged in this rare event.
The department will be offering students the opportunity to help create pinhole viewers to watch the eclipse. This event is on April 5 and is available to the first 30 students who sign up.
On the day of the eclipse, ConVal High School will be hosting a viewing event at Stadium Field from 2:30-4 p.m. The school will have approximately 250 solar eclipse glasses to distribute to those who sign up ahead of time to reserve them. Interested students can sign-up for the viewing in Room 212.
ConVal High School would like to share the following tips to all students and staff, courtesy of NASA :
- 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.
- Do NOT look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
- Do NOT use eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras, binoculars, or telescopes.
- 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. Remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to prevent skin damage.
The last time New Hampshire was in the direct path of a solar eclipse was in 1959, and the next one will not be until 2079.
“We encourage all our students to come participate in the viewing in what truly is a rare event,” said Principal McKillop. “I am looking forward to participating in the viewing with our students. It is sure to be a special event for all to enjoy.”
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