AC schools ending early for cosmic event
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East Tennessee’s last full solar eclipse occurred in August 2017. Worldwide spectators descended on Sweetwater, Tennessee, to take in the full two minutes, 37 seconds of totality. The April 8 eclipse will not be full for East Tennessee, but will still offer onlookers a rare event to observe. - Tony Cox
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Clinton Sonic Drive-In General Manager Tabatha Skeene shows the special “Blackout Slush Float” with “Galaxy sprinkles” that the restaurant has introduced just in time for the April 8 solar eclipse. The $4 treat comes with a pair of special glasses for safely viewing the eclipse. - Tony Cox
An eclipse is on its way April 8, and you may get a chance to witness it.
Schoolkids throughout Anderson County will be released early on the day, next Monday, to allow them to see the event around 2 p.m.
Solar elipses occur when the moon’s orbit puts it in the way of the sun’s profile.
In some parts of the U.S., Mexico and Canada people can get a glimpse at a total eclipse, or the moon passing fully in front of the sun causing pitch darkness for four minutes.
Some of West Tennessee is in the path of the full eclipse, as are Little Rock, Arkansas; Dallas; Indianapolis; Buffalo, New York; and Cleveland, Ohio.
However, Anderson County will only experience a partial eclipse, with the moon just blocking a decent chunk of the sun without fully passing in front of it. Think of it as a large-sized bite rather than a full meal.
Schools are changing schedules for the event across Anderson County. Oak Ridge Schools will dismiss early in keeping with typical Wednesday schedules even though the eclipse will be on a Monday. A similar half day will occur for Anderson County Schools. Clinton City Schools will be dismissing at noon.
“Certainly, they’re going to be using it as an opportunity to teach about the eclipse,” Molly Gallagher Smith, communications specialist for Oak Ridge Schools said.
In this area, the partial eclipse should begin around 2 p.m, with the moon blocking the sun the most around 3 p.m. The website eclipse2024.org which shows how the eclipse will look in different cities.
You’ll need eclipse glasses to watch the partial eclipse safely, but thankfully there’s a tasty way to get them. Sonic Drive-In is giving them out with the special “Blackout Slush Float,” while supplies last.