Superintendent James Peterson has proposed that the East Knox Local School District suspend operations for all students and staff on April 8, 2024, due to the anticipated solar eclipse.
According to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency's (Ohio EMA) Total Solar Eclipse web page, a 124-mile wide band in Ohio will witness a total solar eclipse. Conversely, Mount Vernon and the remainder of Knox County will experience a partial solar eclipse.
The Ohio EMA's Total Solar Eclipse web page indicates that total solar eclipses are infrequent events. On average, one occurs somewhere on Earth approximately every 1.5 years. Since the inception of the United States, only 21 total solar eclipses have traversed the lower 48 states.
As per the information on the Ohio EMA's Total Solar Eclipse web page, solar eclipses result from the moon casting its shadow on Earth during its transit between Earth and Sun. A total solar eclipse is characterized by the moon appearing to completely block out the Sun.
The Ohio EMA's Total Solar Eclipse web page also advises that specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing is required to safely observe a solar eclipse.
