People in 15 states will have the opportunity to see a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 where the moon will completely block the sun, showing the sun’s corona.
The total solar eclipse will be visible along a narrow band stretching from Texas to Maine in the United States. Outside of this path, people in all 48 contiguous states will have the opportunity to see a partial eclipse, when the Moon covers only part of the Sun.
West Virginia residents and visitors will be able to see a partial eclipse of the sun on Monday, April 8 during the afternoon. The peak of the solar eclipse in Morgan County will be around 3:22 p.m. on Monday. Coverage of the sun during partial eclipse will be about 90% in West Virginia, according to information from NASA’s Langley Research Center.
According to NASA, there won’t be another event of this nature in the continental United States for 20 years.
Morgan County Schools rescheduled a Faculty Senate Day with a two-hour early dismissal for students to Monday, April 8 so people could safely witness the solar eclipse together as an educational experience.
Schools in Southern Fulton, Pa. are letting out starting at 11:30 a.m. on Monday and students in Hancock will be dismissed two and a half hours early, too.
Local libraries in Berkeley Springs and Hancock are giving out free eclipse-viewing glasses ahead of Monday.
Everyone is urged to wear safety glasses if viewing the solar eclipse. Otherwise their eyes could be severely damaged from looking at the sun.
NASA provided these links about eclipse safety and additional information:
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-invites-media-public-to-solar-eclipse-events-in-april/