Keeping an eye on safety

On Monday, April 8—a regular work day for Dallas ISD schools and offices—a total solar eclipse will sweep across Texas and be observed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In an effort to provide students with a safe opportunity to view the eclipse, The Perot Museum of Nature and Science has provided all Dallas ISD students and campus team members with a free pair of solar viewing glasses. 

The solar eclipse glasses were distributed thanks to the efforts of Katie Gagne of the Perot Museum and STEM Environmental Education Center Director Mark Broughton, who also worked together to coordinate astronomers from the Carnegie Institute of Science to visit 40 campuses to teach students about the eclipse and the science behind it. The glasses are critical to prevent retinal harm while viewing the eclipse. The total solar eclipse start and end times will be as follows:

Total Solar Eclipse Start & End Times                         

Here are some required safety guidelines to follow during a total solar eclipse:

• View the sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
• Younger students may require a practice round of how to properly wear the glasses before the actual eclipse occurs. It will be important to show them how to observe the eclipse safely, and remind them of the importance of wearing the glasses before and throughout the eclipse. The glasses may be folded to fit smaller faces.
• Keeping your skin safe is also important. Even during a partial or annular eclipse, or during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the Sun will still be very bright. If you are watching an entire eclipse, you may be in direct sunlight for hours. Remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to prevent skin damage.