Moon Pies and Unusual Skies

April 9, 2024 / Middle School/All News

The next time current students experience a total solar eclipse, they could be graduating or employed, and some could even have their own children attending JA. That’s the rarity of a total solar eclipse; NASA expects the next one in North America to appear the summer of 2044. 

Sixth-grade students in Lisa Kimbriel’s science class learned facts about the April 8 eclipse while following watch parties across the United States. This week, K4 will complete weekly readers about the eclipse and eat moon pies to celebrate the remarkable occurrence. 

The rare occasion of a total solar eclipse, where the moon blocks the sun, allows scientists to study the sun in different ways than without the eclipse. According to NBC News, tens of millions of people joined enthusiastic umbrafiles (people who traverse the world to see eclipses) as the total solar eclipse darkened skies and cooled temperatures across 15 U.S. states, parts of Mexico, and eastern Canada. People in other parts of the U.S. witnessed a partial solar eclipse.

Click here to view stunning views on the NBC News website.