The total solar eclipse is an event that can reoccur anywhere in the world, every 18 months. On Monday, April 8, it happens to cross North America, crossing Mexico, the United States and Canada. One of the states in the U.S. it will take place in specifically, is Indiana.
“A total eclipse occurs in your specific area only about once every 100+ years,” Sarah Waggoner, a science teacher at Warren Central High School, said in an email. “This year, it’s our turn, through central Indiana, to see this phenomenon.”
Due to the occurrence of the solar eclipse, many schools in central Indiana will be closed. Some, like Warren Central, will be holding an asynchronous e-learning day. According to Dr. Tim Hanson, the superintendent of The Metropolitan School district of Warren Township, Warren Township was one of the first districts in Marion county to move the school day online.
“When we learned that the duration of the total eclipse would happen at the same time as our elementary student dismissal time, we brought this proposal to our school board for their approval in April 2023,” Hanson said in an email.
In addition, Hanson said, the number of people traveling to central Indiana from elsewhere to view the eclipse could cause “significant traffic and delays” throughout the city.
It should be noted that solar eclipses make small parts of the Earth exceedingly dark. The cancellation of school verifies the safety of students and staff, a part of the Warrior nation.
Furthermore, there are three types of solar eclipses. There is the partial, annual and total eclipse. According to the National Weather Service these eclipses happen when the moon passes between the sun and the earth.
What’s so exciting about the April 8 total eclipse is that its totality is set to last twice as long as 2017’s eclipse. NASA has concluded that solar eclipses are so important because they help scientists understand the sun’s structure and explosive events. They also help them to overall discover more about the universe.
Total solar eclipses can pass over any place in the world. This allows scientists from all over the earth to be able to view and make scientific observations based on them. According to NASA, they have helped reveal solar storms years before satellites.
With central Indiana being in the pathway of this eclipse, many Hoosiers are excited to watch, but there are some safety precautions they should be aware of. Whenever a person watches a solar eclipse they should always wear solar viewers and filters.
“We have purchased solar eclipse glasses for all of our students and staff and will encourage them to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Hanson said.
Nonetheless, if non-students want to watch the solar eclipse in the safest way possible, it is highly recommended that they purchase solar eclipse glasses. It is also very important that the glasses are not damaged in any way because they are there to protect viewers’ eyes from ultraviolet light and infrared radiation. Hoosiers in the path of the solar eclipse should only remove the glasses when the moon completely covers the sun.
“The Indiana State Fairgrounds and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are two facilities
that are planning a day-long celebration with events, music and games for families leading up to the eclipse,” Waggoner said.
All Hoosiers will be allowed to participate in this special event.