Lakeland residents can view the partial solar eclipse Monday (8.21.17) and parents are welcome to join their students at schools for the viewing.
The partial viewing in Memphis starts at 11:52 a.m., maximum eclipse at 1:22 p.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m.
Lakeland/Memphis will not experience complete totality, but rather about a 94 percent eclipse. This means the moon will nearly totally eclipse the sun.
Dr. Ted Horrell, superintendent for the Lakeland School System (LSS), said, “I’ve confirmed with both principals that parents are welcome to come to the school to view the eclipse with their children. “ He is referring to Lakeland Elementary School and Lakeland Middle Preparatory School.
Dr. Horrell explained, “Students whose parents return the waiver form will be outside during the peak totality of the eclipse. Each school is setting their own schedule/arrangements to coordinate the viewing at each school.
“Teachers will be training the children as to how to be sure their eyes are protected, and will be closely supervising the students. Some of the teachers of younger students will have additional volunteers on hand to help supervise. We are obviously taking the safety of the children very seriously, and I have met with the principals personally to review eclipse safety, and I know the principals are meeting with their faculties to do the same.
“Students in younger grades, particularly, will be “practicing” in advance of the eclipse so they are not getting comfortable with the glasses the day of the event. “
He said the system purchased 2000 pair of glasses so every student and staff member that desired could participate.
Jim Atkinson, Lakeland city manager, said city staff will be provided solar eclipse glasses to be outside and watch the event.
Viewers are advised to never look directly at the sun. Doing so could seriously impair vision or cause blindness. Proper eye protection, like eclipse glasses or a sun filter are the only safe choices. Sunglasses do not work.
Link to information about the eclipse.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/memphis
This eclipse will be visible in a belt spanning across the United States and the first time viewable on mainland USA since March 1979. The next one will be in April 2024, but it will not be visible from nearly as many US locations as this month.
The Eclipse Day forecast here is partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain.
Link to eclipse-viewing activities in Memphis: https://choose901.com/solar-eclipse-2017-memphis/
