LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus
Greetings from the Superintendent’s Desk!
Well … it looks like we may have clouds and maybe even rain during Monday’s Solar Eclipse. In any case, this spectacular event offers a rare teachable moment about science and safety.
In Los Alamos, the Partial Eclipse begins at about 10:22 a.m. when the Moon touches the Sun’s edge. The Maximum Eclipse will be at about 11:46 a.m. when the Moon is closest to the center of the Sun.
Here are some safety reminders for students and staff on Monday:
- The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through certified and approved solar filters, https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters
- LAPS teachers and Principals will inspect all “solar glasses” and then carefully supervise student use of these filters
- Some Los Alamos parents have even taken the school-purchased “solar glasses” to work for a thorough test of the optics (thank you parents!)
- Do not look at the sun through a telescope, binoculars, unfiltered camera, sunglasses, or other optical device — the concentrated solar rays could cause serious injury
- An alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed sun is pinhole projection (I have fond childhood memories in Los Alamos of viewing an eclipse using pinholes in a cardboard box)
- Another option is to view this animation of what the eclipse and timing look like in the Santa Fe/Los Alamos area: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/santa-fe
Students are allowed to opt out of these activities for cultural, religious or others reasons.
A solar eclipse is often called one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these rules, we can learn more about science, safely enjoy the view, and be rewarded with memories that could last a lifetime.
