We have the opportunity to witness a historic celestial event this upcoming Monday!

Monday, April 8th, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, United States, and Canada. This is going to be a spectacular sighting as the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will not be for another two decades (think 2044)!

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Total solar eclipses typically happen every year and a half or so on Earth, but most of the time they are in the middle of the ocean. In this rare case, parts of North America will be plunged into darkness, marking a unique celestial phenomenon that will not return for decades.

In preparation of the solar eclipse, your students can learn more about the solar system, the sun, and the stars by watching our ClassOrbit videos. Also, this article featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy provides safety tips for viewing the total solar eclipse.

Our team at ClassOrbit hopes you and your students take some time to bring out your inner astrologist or astronaut. Monday’s total solar eclipse will be out of this world!