With oohs, ahhs, wows and woahs, St. Margaret’s students were in awe of a rare solar eclipse that took place during the school day on Monday.  

 

While the celestial event was a total solar eclipse in some states like Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio and New York, Southern California only had a partial eclipse with about 50 percent totality. Still, it was a captivating sight that excited students and professional community in each division. 

 

St. Margaret’s had solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing of the moon passing in front of the sun, which reached peak coverage at 11:12 a.m. on Monday morning. In the Upper School, science teachers brought out a solar telescope to safely view the eclipse, while Lower School students took part in activities like observing the unusual shape of the obscured sun through a pinhole. 

 

Middle School also made the rare event an opportunity for learning. During Chapel, the Middle School astronomy club shared information on the different types of solar eclipses, the importance of solar eclipses to the scientific study of the sun, and the scientific and mathematical reasons why total eclipses are even possible. 

 

Students also had the chance to observe a solar eclipse at St. Margaret’s in 2017, an event which took place in August just before the beginning of the school year.