Hopefully, you've already heard that on April 8, 2024, Plainfield will be in the path of totality for a solar eclipse. Seeing a total solar eclipse in your hometown is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event. But did you know that another eclipse is coming on October 14?!
At The Imagination Lab, 3rd through 5th grade students have been learning about this annular eclipse and getting ready to safely observe it. An annular eclipse is also known as a "ring of fire" eclipse since the moon doesn't appear large enough to cover the full sun. Since Plainfield is not along the path of totality, we won't be able to see the ring. But if you know how to view it safely, you'll be able to see over half of the sun covered by the moon at 1:01 pm on Saturday, October 14.
During their recent Odysseys, 3rd and 4th students created Cereal Box (THANK YOU for your donations!) Eclipse viewers. 5th-grade students first created their own box from a template and then converted it into an eclipse viewer.
This Odyssey also included time in the Digitarium with a special close-up view of the moon.
Students watched as the moon changed each day for a full month to identify its phases. A solar eclipse can only occur during a new moon.
On October 14, the moon will start covering the sun at 11:39 am and finish at 2:28 pm, with the most coverage at 1:01 pm.
To use the eclipse viewer, stand with your back towards the sun and hold the cereal box up to your face. Look through the open side of the box with the aluminum foil facing the sun. You should see a small projection of the eclipse on the white piece of paper inside the box. This is a safe and indirect way to view the eclipse without damaging your eyes. Watch this video to learn out to make your own!