A rare, total solar eclipse is expected to bring darkness to cities across the United States on Monday, April 8. While Knoxville is not in the path of totality, the excitement for the phenomenon is still palpable in East Tennessee.
At the peak eclipse, scientists tell WVLT News about 90% of the sun will be covered in Knoxville. However, it can cause serious or permanent eye damage if you don’t wear certified, safe glasses to view the eclipse.
“Even 1% of that sun is too much to look at with your naked eye,” said Dave Ticehurst, a volunteer NASA “eclipse ambassador” for the Knoxville region.
If you want to watch the eclipse, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have open to the public., please go to https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/news/solar-eclipse-viewing-at-the-smokies.htm#:~:text=Park%20staff%20and%20volunteers%20will,at%20the%20Cades%20Cove%20Overlook
Be mindful that several schools in East Tennessee will close early for the solar event.
It’s almost time for another solar eclipse to pass by East Tennessee and school districts around the region are preparing for it.
As of this article’s writing, the following districts have announced they will dismiss early on April 8 for the eclipse:
- Alcoa City
- Anderson County
- Athens City
- Blount County
- Campbell County
- Claiborne County
- Clinton City
- Cocke County
- Cumberland County
- Grainger County
- Greene County
- Hamblen County
- Hancock County
- Hawkins County
- Knox County
- Lenoir City
- Loudon County
- Maryville City
- Oak Ridge
- Roane County
- Scott County
- Sevier County
- Tennessee School for the Deaf
- Union County
The following districts told WVLT News they will be moving to virtual learning on April 8:
- McMinn County
- Monroe County
- Morgan County
The following districts told WVLT News they will be closed on April 8 for the eclipse:
- Oneida City
The following districts said they are not planning to close or dismiss early for the eclipse:
- Jefferson County
WVLT News has reached out but not received word from the following districts:
- Fentress County
- Newport
The eclipse will pass by on April 8, allowing people to see the sun disappear briefly behind the moon, creating an eerie mid-day darkness.
It will also reveal the sun’s corona, or the outermost part of its atmosphere, which is usually obscured by its brightness.
Of course, one should never look directly at the sun, even partially obscured, and one should avoid looking at it through tools like binoculars or other such gadgets without a special solar filter. Doing so risks severe eye damage.
Instead, create your own shadow box or another indirect method to observe the phenomenon safely.
NASA has several other tips for how to experience a solar eclipse safely.
After this eclipse, there will be quite a wait for the next one. The National Park Service said the next annular, or ring of fire, eclipse will happen in North America in 2041, and the next total one will occur in 2044.
Story courtesy of WVLT
