Quitman schools hosting solar eclipse watch party

Posted Thursday, October 12, 2023 3:05 am

Wood County is in the path of the first of two solar eclipses within six months this Saturday starting at 10:25 a.m. and continuing to 1:30 p.m.

The eclipse will be a partial annular (ring of fire) eclipse in the county. A maximum of about 80% of the sun’s surface will be covered at 11:54 a.m. by the moon passing in front of the sun.

Observers must wear eye protection to directly view the partial eclipse, since a part of the sun will be visible throughout the eclipse. Do not attempt to directly view the eclipse with regular sunglasses, welding helmet or goggles, binoculars, camera, telescope or any other optical instrument other than ISO approved eclipse glasses.

Quitman Independent School District will host a Solar Eclipse Party from 10:30-1:30 on Saturday on the front lawn of the Quitman Jr./Sr. High School Campus. Participants are invited to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy activities including face-painting, crafts, and making an eclipse viewer.

QISD, with the help of Wood County Rotary Clubs, will provide QISD students the latest ISO approved eclipse glasses, which allow the wearer to directly observe the eclipse. The Quitman Rotary Club will be on hand providing a pair of eclipse glasses to others for a $5 donation which helps to defray the cost of glasses for the students. Attendees also can bring a small cardboard box (a shoe box is just right) to make into a viewer as part of the fun.

The October partial annular eclipse is the opening act for the even more spectacular total eclipse of the sun occurring in Wood County on April 8, 2024.

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