(Left) Senior McKenna Revis experiences the solar eclipse as part of her biology class. (Middle) Junior Gisselle Martinez looks through the eclipse viewer box to see the reflection of the eclipse. (Right) Freshman Tyas Menning tries on the solar eclipse glasses.
The United States experienced a solar eclipse yesterday April 8 and the Doane community made sure not to pass this opportunity up.
Full solar eclipses are not rare as they happen every few years according to AP News. However, they most often occur where the general public cannot see them such as over oceans. This is what made this solar eclipse so special. The path of totality, or where the moon completely blocks the sun, stretches through Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and into the northern part of New England.
This means that in Crete, those viewing the eclipse were able to see the obscuration of the sun at about 80 percent.
With the eclipse, it is important that those viewing do not look directly into the sun. Despite the fact that part of the sun will be covered, just a few minutes of looking can cause permanent damage.
This is why solar eclipse glasses and other methods are so important. To give students an opportunity to see the eclipse, some professors and staff members in addition to students shared their glasses and methods with others.
For seniors McKenna Revis and Olivia Kuzas, who both had class during the eclipse were surprised to have class moved out to experience the viewing together.
“I was a bit bummed that I had class during the eclipse. However [Biology Professor] Kate Marley surprised our class by stopping class early and providing us with everything we needed to have a safe viewing experience,” Kuzas said.
Students in the class and any students or staff passing by were offered the opportunity to look through solar eclipse glasses or to look through a solar eclipse viewing box.
“It was a great opportunity and experience. I’m thankful that Dr. Kate Marley gave us the opportunity and resources to see it.” Revis said.
Kuzas echoed Revis saying that it was such a memorable experience thanks to Marley.
The next solar eclipse to stretch across the United States will be in 2045.
