Several school boards across the province, including here in the Ottawa Valley are rescheduling their PA days to align with the upcoming solar eclipse. This means that on April 8th, numerous students will be staying home from school locally in hopes of avoiding any eye injuries. We interviewed Backyard Astronomer Gary Boyle about the upcoming eclipse, and he fully supports school boards taking a cautious approach.
Boyle mentioned that the eclipse will last roughly from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. He explains that eyes can sustain injuries from looking up at the eclipse, but there is only a very small window when it could be safe.
If you are willing to spend some money, there are “Eclipse glasses” and other products available on the market. However, Boyle advises conducting some research before making a purchase.
For those unable to acquire these glasses, parents can still view the eclipse with their kids in a fun and crafty way.
While many regions will have a limited window to see the sun fully eclipsed by the moon, the best spot is likely in Niagara Falls if you happen to be in that area for the day. There, you will have the longest opportunity to observe the eclipse without protection, as the moon will fully cover the sun for roughly 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
(Written by: Matt Leblanc)