Polk County Public Schools are taking extra precautions for the solar eclipse on Monday, moving outdoor activities inside and excusing the absences of any students who stay home.
Our area will only get a partial eclipse — with the moon covering up to 57% of the sun around 3 p.m. according to NASA — and experts caution not to expect anything dramatic.
“You can have a 75% or 80% partial solar eclipse, and if you didn’t know it was happening, you might not notice because the environment changes so little,” according to Rick Fienberg, the project manager for the American Astronomical Society’s solar eclipse task force.
Still, there is risk involved in looking directly at the sun during that time.
In a news release Friday, the school district said: “Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, even for a short time, can cause permanent vision damage. Sunglasses do not offer sufficient protection for viewing the eclipse. Please be sure to speak with your children about the eclipse and the dangers of looking directly at the sun during this time.”
The district said that, because of the timing of the eclipse during school dismissal for many students, it is important for drivers to use caution and avoid distracted motorists, students and pedestrians.
NASA will be broadcasting a live feed of the eclipse with telescope views from several locations along its path.
Quick Facts
What is a solar eclipse? It’s when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the face of the sun and casting a shadow over the Earth. Depending on your location, the sky can darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
When was the last solar eclipse? Total solar eclipses over the continental U.S. are rare. The last one was on Aug. 21, 2017. It crossed the country from Oregon to South Carolina. Before that, you have to go back to Feb. 26, 1979.
When will the next eclipse be? There won’t be one over the continental U.S. for another 20 years. The next one will be Aug. 23, 2044.
What will we see? Everyone in the continental U.S. will see at least a partial eclipse, but it might be underwhelming for Central Floridians. Only those in the “path of totality” will get the full spectacle with a diamond ring, corona, strange colors in the sky, a drop in temperature and stars visible during the daytime. Here, you may just notice your surroundings getting slightly darker.
What is so special about the 2024 eclipse? Eclipses happen globally every 18 months, but this one will be visible across a huge swath of the U.S. About 31.5 million Americans live in the path of totality, and another 4 million people are estimated to be traveling to view it, generating up to $1 billion in tourism revenue.
Where is the path of totality? Monday’s eclipse will travel diagonally from Kerrville, Texas, to Houlton, Maine, crossing 13 states and multiple major cities including San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and Dallas, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio; and Buffalo, New York. The path of totality will be an average of 108 to 122 miles wide.
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