Experiencing the solar eclipse

April 8, 2024

MCC sixth grade students with their teacher, Ron Tyndall, watch the eclipse from outside their classroom.

Photos and story by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

SCOTTVILLE — Today, I was able to watch much of the solar eclipse in the same spot I watched it on Feb. 27, 1979, from Mason County Central’s Scottville Elementary. At that time I was in the third grade. I still remember making pinhole filters so we could watch it on the ground.

Sloane and Avoca Alway watch the eclipse.

This time, my youngest daughter is in the third grade, though she is technically in a different school — the Upper Elementary (back in my day, Scottville Elementary housed kindergarten through fifth grade). I picked my two kids up early from school (the other is in fifth grade) and we went to the lower elementary to watch the totality of the eclipse with my wife, who works there.

The kids may not completely understand the significance of witnessing such an event as a family, Our 10-year-old protested because she wanted to watch with her friends, She got over it and eventually enjoyed the moment.. I reminded her that her parents will never witness another solar eclipse (at least in Michigan) again. They may not either. The next one is forecasted for Sept. 14, 2099. Another one is forecasted for the southern portion of the country on Aug. 12, 2045, perhaps we’ll able to enjoy that from our retirement home!

I hope you were able to witness this great solar event and, if you have children, they were able to witness it as well.

 

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