A partial solar eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8, 2024. In Spotsylvania County, the eclipse will begin at 2:02 p.m. and end at 4:31 p.m., peaking at 3:19 p.m. During the eclipse, there will be 86% coverage during, which means it will get darker outside, but there will not be total darkness.
All SCPS’ dismissals take place during the eclipse period. After school activities will take place indoors during this time period. We encourage parents/guardians to speak with their children about following these solar eclipse safety tips:
Never look directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse. It is dangerous to look directly at the sun and can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Looking at the sun through tinted windows, sunglasses, telescopes, or binoculars may still cause damage.
Anyone using special viewing glasses or filters should only use those that conform to all International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.
If you purchased special viewing glasses, ensure they are from reputable manufacturers. There have been reports of counterfeit products labeled as if they conform to international safety standards.
The American Astronomical Society, whose products are known to conform to ISO standards, provides a list of companies that are reputable and conform to safety standards can be viewed at https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters.
Learn more about solar eclipses and safety practices at the NASA website: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/.