On Monday, April 8, Philadelphia will lie within the path of partial totality of a solar eclipse. Due to the fact that this type of astronomical event is not expected to be seen again from the United States until 2044, CAP will be taking advantage of this opportunity and will be including both learning and viewing opportunities.
There has been a lot of discussion about the safety of our students around the solar eclipse because of the timing. In our area, the eclipse is expected to occur between 2:00 - 4:30 PM with peak partial eclipse at approximately 3:20 PM. CAP has decided to have an early dismissal (B schedule, 1 PM) on Monday, April 8th in order to make sure that all students are home in a protective area and are given an opportunity to experience this momentous event with your family. Please remember you should never look directly at the sun during an eclipse without protective eyewear.
Leading up to the solar eclipse, CAP will have age-appropriate academic lessons about the solar eclipse as well as the safety concerns with the eclipse. The Elementary Division will discuss the 2017 Solar Eclipse as an example of what to expect on April 8th in addition to ways to view the eclipse safely. In the High School, our students will be discussing how to model the two types of eclipses while learning how eclipses have influenced artists, musicians, and driven scientific discovery.
Please remember that safety, while viewing the solar eclipse, is very important. For those interested, there are several options of safety glasses available for purchase. Please be sure that they meet the ISO or CE international safety standards. Filters that are ISO or CE compliant not only reduce visible sunlight to safe and comfortable levels but also block all but a tiny
fraction of solar UV and IR radiation i.e. Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses
fraction of solar UV and IR radiation i.e. Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses