You may have seen the upcoming solar eclipse in news headlines and on TikTok. As the anticipation builds for this stellar event, rumors of a day off swirl on campus. Well, the rumors are true! On Monday, April 8th, the students of St. Paul’s School will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to see the total solar eclipse unimpeded by classes.
But what is a solar eclipse and why should we care about it? Teacher of Astronomy, Dr. Seth Cohen, has the answers.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun, with the moon lining up to partially or totally block the sun out in the sky. Partial solar eclipses are common and can be easily viewed from many places on earth. They are interesting to look at, but not particularly special.
Total solar eclipses are a whole different ball game. As Cohen says, “A total solar eclipse is the coolest thing you’ll ever see, and it’s unlike anything else you’ll experience in your life… Total solar eclipses happen every 18 months or so, but they’re only visible from a small path on Earth, only for a few minutes. To have one happen so close to us that we can drive to see it is an almost once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
On Monday, April 8th, students will start the day in Memorial Hall with a presentation on the eclipse and what to expect from the day. We will then drive 3 hours north to Foote Brook Farm in Johnson, VT—one of the few places in the world where the total eclipse can be seen. We will then have the opportunity to witness three marvelous minutes of total eclipse.
These three minutes will be unlike anything you have ever experienced before. Cohen describes it best: “During the three minutes of the total eclipse, you can take off your glasses to see an eerie black circle in the sky, haloed by the shining corona of the Sun (the corona is basically the “atmosphere” of the Sun that is normally outshined by the Sun’s light). It will get dark, like it’s dusk. There will be 360 degrees of the colors of sunset on every horizon. Birds, insects, and other animals will freak out because they think it’s nighttime. Plus: shadow snakes.”
Following the eclipse, we will return to campus for dinner. Get excited for Monday, April 8th—an SPS solar special!