Latin students gathered at the corner of North and Clark yesterday afternoon to watch the solar eclipse.
After a weekend filled with rain and cloudy skies, students came dressed for both the warm weather and the event, wearing shorts and eclipse glasses.
The most recent solar eclipse visible from Chicago took place on August 21, 2017, and the next eclipse visible from Chicago is expected September 14, 2099, making Monday’s eclipse a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some.
In preparation for the spectacle, Latin sent out an email that said, “The Upper School will be streaming Monday’s solar eclipse through the eyes of NASA in the [Learning Commons] and Science Center from 12-3 p.m.!”
Upper School science teacher Sarah Kutschke said, “There will also be a limited number of glasses available at the front desk starting at 12:30 p.m. … so be sure you use them if you plan to catch a live glimpse!”
Alongside Ms. Kutschke, Upper School science teacher Jonty Faulkner further educated students about the dangers of viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection. During an Upper School gathering last week, the two went on stage and informed students and faculty that looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can burn the retina, an unregenerable tissue apart of the eyeball, resulting in permanent vision loss. In order for students to view this once-in-a-lifetime experience safely, the Science Department provided more than 300 pairs of solar eclipse glasses.
Once the eclipse came, students gathered around the Children’s Fountain on West North Boulevard to view the total solar eclipse, which reached its peak coverage at 93.9% at 2:07 p.m. and provided students with a brief, yet highly anticipated break during what would have been their B block class.
Senior Kaya Bhandari said, “It was so nice to have everyone outside and united and to see the whole school outside enjoying the eclipse together.”
