Solar Eclipse April 8 Prompts Caution From Howard County Public School Leaders

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Students will be dismissed during the April 8 partial solar eclipse and leaders are advising parents to help their kids protect their vision during this time.

In Howard County, the eclipse will happen from approximately 2-4:35 p.m., with maximum coverage at 3:21 p.m., leaders with the Howard County Public School System said. During the eclipse, there will be 88% coverage at which time it will get darker outside, but not total darkness.

Parents and guardians should advise their students of the following 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, HCPSS leaders advised. Do not look at the sun through sunglasses, a telescope or binoculars, the school district warned.
• If you purchase special viewing glasses, ensure they are from reputable manufacturers, the district said. There have been reports of counterfeit products labeled as if they conform to international safety standards, HCPSS leaders advised. Amazon has a wide collection of NASA-approved solar eclipse glasses, and the American Astronomical Society has more vendors whose eclipse glasses have been certified as safe. Wherever you acquire protective eyewear, it should meet or exceed the international safety standard of ISO 12312-2:2015.

"Students and families are encouraged to read more about solar eclipses and safety, and enjoy experiencing this exciting phenomenon," HCPSS leaders said.

The Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. in Baltimore, will host a watch party for the eclipse. The event is free to anyone with paid admission and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The 2024 eclipse is a much bigger deal than the 2017 Great American Eclipse, when only about 12 million people lived in the path of totality. This time, something like 31 million U.S. residents live in places that will see daytime darkness at the peak of the eclipse. Another 1 million to 4 million people are expected to make a pilgrimage to states in the path of totality, according to eclipse travel projections.

Related:

MD Viewing For Great American Solar Eclipse: What To Know