COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Total solar eclipse phenomena a short drive away for area residents

If there was ever a time to stop and look up, April 8th at 2:07 p.m. will be that time.

In the Peterborough region, that time will mark the start of what will be a partial solar eclipse – an astronomical phenomena that will last until 4:43 p.m. However, travel the relatively short distance southeast to the Kingston area and you will be treated to a total eclipse.

Rick Stankiewicz, publicity director for the Peterborough Astronomical Association, is chomping at the bit for April 8th to get here. He says interest in the event speaks to how experiential astronomy can be for people, event those with a casual interest.

Stankiewicz hopes parents will share the experience with their kids.

Stankiewicz says 30 to 40 seconds of eclipse totality will be as close as Port Hope but that time increases up to three minutes east of there.

Stankiewicz says those looking at the partial eclipse must wear filtered glasses with the ISO number of 12312-2 to prevent eye damage.

(Written by: Paul Rellinger)