Rishworth School plans for
Solar Eclipse
On the 20th March, Rishworth School’s Science Department is planning activities
around the solar eclipse, which will take place from 8.30am to 10.00am. The solar
eclipse will approximately
cover 85% of the sun - there
will be some light and not
complete darkness.
Upon interviewing Doctor
Ladds about the solar eclipse
and the activities held that
day, she said:
Q: What are the school’s plans
for the solar eclipse?
A: We’re going to have an assembly all about the eclipse to tell you what you are going to be
expected to see. The students will be given a set of special glasses so that you can look directly
at the sun without hurting your eyes. We are also going to make a pinhole camera which entails
making a hole in a card and shining the sun’s rays through that hole onto another piece of card
to enable people to look at the sun’s rays as it passes through: a way of looking at the eclipse
without looking at the sun. Then the students, accompanied by their form tutor, will be
participating in a number of activities like plotting a chart of the what the sun looks like at
different stages, drawing a graph of its
coverage by the moon, making pictures
from glow sticks and taking
photographs with mobile phones.
Q: How dark is it supposed to get?
A: Well, it depends on the weather and
we’re supposed to get about 85%
coverage of the sun. If it was 100%
covered then it would be a lot darker,
but still not pitch black.
Q: How excited are you?
A: Very!
Q: What are the chances of us
seeing another total solar eclipse in
our lifetime?
A: There are more coming up in
different countries but in Britain the
next solar eclipse will be on August
11th 2018. It’s only a small partial
eclipse which will be seen on the north coast of Scotland. The next total eclipse, which will be
similar to the eclipse I saw on the 11th August 1999, is not until 23rd September 2090.
Q: How does a solar eclipse occur?
A: An eclipse occurs when the moon is perfectly in alignment in front of the sun, but the moon
has to be at the correct distance so that it appears the same size as the sun from earth and
covers it all.
As long as the weather is nice then it should be possible to see the solar eclipse. Along with all
the activities in place, it should be a fun day for the whole school!
It is important that the children of Rishworth School stay safe and wear their glasses for the
duration of the solar eclipse. The weather should be cloudy from 8 until 9 o’clock but from then
on the skies should clear. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for a good day!