SUN. EARTH. SKY. MOON.
Monday, April 8, marks the date of much hype, intense interest and eyes focused skyward for an afternoon solar eclipse. Here in Minnesota, we will witness a partial eclipse with the moon covering about 75 percent of the sun around 2 pm.
But…the weather forecast is for cloudy skies, meaning disappointment for many in Minnesota who hope to view the solar event through special eye wear. I picked up free eclipse glasses at my local library. So I’m set, just in case the cloud cover lifts.
Carleton College in nearby Northfield is also set to celebrate at Goodsell Observatory, where small telescopes will be placed outside the building for solar viewing beginning at noon. That is if the weather cooperates. (Check the website for updates.) The event is open to the public.
No matter, I expect to notice visible changes in daylight as the moon passes between the sun and earth from 12:45-3:15 pm in Minnesota.
A half hour to the north of my southern Minnesota home, my 5-year-old grandson Isaac likely will be all-a-chatter about the eclipse. He can rattle off facts about the solar system with the knowledge of an expert. Plus he loves art and has created enough solar system drawings to fill a gallery or at least plaster my refrigerator. I expect many other kids share his excitement. And that is a good thing—anytime kids (and adults) get excited about science.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Yes our grandkids will see it as well. and are excited for the event here in Texas.
have fun!! lov kg
I hope skies are clear for good viewing in Texas.
I am very excited to see it tomorrow, (ours will be about 3:15ish), and the children in my class and I will all have on our special glasses to try to witness it, weather dependent of course. some parents are picking the kids up early to take them with them to watch, and some will stay with us, I can’t wait! p.s. that is an amazing piece of art for someone who is not yet 5, by Isaac!
I look forward to reading about your solar eclipse experience with your kids.
Yes, Isaac is quite the artist. He loves creating. You should see his map of the United States. He sat down with a blank sheet of white paper and a black marker and proceeded to draw the entire country with each state in its proper location. He wasn’t looking at a map, nothing, only from memory. This also was well before he turned five. I couldn’t draw a map like that.
For Christmas we gave him a mega packet of white paper and markers (along with a few other gifts). Within months he’d used all of the paper. I love that he’s so creative. But he’s also really good at math and is currently into learning about countries in the world. He and his mom had to go to a second library to find more country books. Isaac is always teaching Grandma something.
perhaps he will be a cartographer or architect one day
Maybe. He will assuredly do something wonderful, that he loves.
I do hope you and your grandchildren get good visibility for the partial eclipse. It’s worth observing how birds react – they think it’s nightfall, and rush back to their nests to roost, and are then discombobulated when daylight returns so quickly. It sounds as if Isaac is quite the astronomer- the most ancient science that makes us aware of our place in the cosmos. Please do protect your eyes- they may be more sensitive after your surgery maybe view on your phone.
Skies are cloudy here, so no solar eclipse visible in southern Minnesota. However, I have been outside and the temp has dropped considerably and the sky seems darker. I noted on the back of my eclipse glasses that they shouldn’t be worn after eye surgery or if you have diseased eyes. I only just noticed those warnings now.
I’m looking forward to this too. I just hope the clouds part enough so we can see it!
Did you see it, Penny? We can’t here. Skies are cloudy. I only felt it in a noticeable temperature drop.
I did! The clouds parted just in time. During totality, looking at the corona, I was seeing solar flares that looked like rubies sparkling around the edges. Incredible!
That’s fantastic, Penny! You need to write and post about this, either in prose or poetry. I challenge you to do that. 🙂
We got our solar glasses at the library too…just in case… 😉
Yes, sadly the clouds did not lift. The temp dropped, though.
clouds clouds and more clouds !!! Bummer 😞
Bummer is right. Too many clouds on this significant day. Can’t see any eclipse, only feel the temp drop.
I accept your challenge, Audrey. (You do know how to get to me, don’t you?) ;)
Laughing, Penny. I look forward to whatever you create.
It’s too bad we didn’t get to see the eclipse today. Your grandson’s drawing is superb. It must be exciting to listen to his solar system knowledge.
I was disappointed, too. The sun finally emerged, but several hours too late. Yes, Isaac enthusiastically shares his knowledge and his art. And this grandma loves it.
it was VERY cool. I can’t describe how exciting it was to view it!
It would have been cool to see. Even a partial eclipse. But, alas, the skies were cloudy in southern Minnesota.