To let my children go to school late so they can watch the eclipse tomorrow?

[DragonmotherKhaleesi]

I have 3dc.
I home educate one of them and the others attend school. I have purchased some glasses and planned to do our work around the eclipse tomorrow.
My other children have asked if they can stay home to watch it, and take them school at lunch when it's over.

My 14 year old DS had a week off last month due to surgery so I'm a little worried about his attendance.

AIBU to let them have the morning off?

I was at a job interview when the 1999 one happened….everybody left the office and went outside. Weirdest interview ever lol.

You might have dull children, but some others don’t. I did a mail correspondence distance learning course for GCSE Astronomy while I was in Year 10 and would totally have wanted to see a partial eclipse.

Yes I would.

I wouldn’t keep the other kids at home, they will miss more than they gain by watching a partial eclipse.

As a side note, if I’m remembering correctly, I was in Beamish when the 1999 eclipse happened and all I can remember is sitting outside the entrance to the mine (possibly, poor memory!) and it going so dark.

Solar eclipses are really vintage. Up there with quick sand. I feel like it was a thing a lot in my childhood and hasn’t been mentioned since.

Just to say, how fucking shit was it that at the supposed amazing solar eclipse you could only watch it through a piece of paper with your back to the sun. Better to just watch it on tv surely

We kept dd home for a near total eclipse one year. It was a very high absence day. The school didn’t feel like they could safely take so many young kids to view so they were very understanding about the absences.

For 20%, I think it depends on the level of interest from the particular child.

@MaskingForIt

You might have dull children, but some others don’t. I did a mail correspondence distance learning course for GCSE Astronomy while I was in Year 10 and would totally have wanted to see a partial eclipse.

We have been looking into this! Could you pm any info you have please? My home educated ds will be able to do it at home with me but I'm figuring out how my ds at school will be able to do it as it's not offered.

@ShirleyPhallus

Solar eclipses are really vintage. Up there with quick sand. I feel like it was a thing a lot in my childhood and hasn’t been mentioned since.

Just to say, how fucking shit was it that at the supposed amazing solar eclipse you could only watch it through a piece of paper with your back to the sun. Better to just watch it on tv surely

I watched it through my dads welding visor! I have got my ds some glasses for tomorrow though!

If it was a full eclipse then I could get it but not for such a partial one which lookinb at the weather forecast won’t even be visible in many areas

The 1999 one was great! I worked in a photo lab at the time and we made lenses to watch it through out of layers of negatives 🤦🏻‍♀️ I'm sure that's why I need glasses now!

It will barely be noticeable in the UK.

@Sirzy

If it was a full eclipse then I could get it but not for such a partial one which lookinb at the weather forecast won’t even be visible in many areas

Unfortunately that seems the case. Cloud coverage is supposed to be heavy here.

@DragonmotherKhaleesi

I did mine through the Astronomy Centre in Todmorden, but I don’t know if they still do it: www.astronomycentre.org.uk/

Just googling “gcse astronomy” looks like there are a lot more providers nowadays, eg oxbridgehomelearning.uk/course/astronomy-gcse/

When I did it (mid 90s) it was mail correspondence, but they’re all online now.

I did about 1/2 of my modules in the summer holidays between Year 9 and Year 10, and then did the rest during evenings/weekends or in the school library at lunchtime. My school let me sit the exam as an external candidate.

Roughly where in the country are you?

Ds has a hospital appointment at 1120 tomorrow and is quite disappointed that the weather means that he probably won’t be able to see it when we are on the way

I would!

I would think the school will be doing something if it’s important or it will be on the news. It depends how important it is to you I guess.

[quote MaskingForIt]@DragonmotherKhaleesi

I did mine through the Astronomy Centre in Todmorden, but I don’t know if they still do it: www.astronomycentre.org.uk/

Just googling “gcse astronomy” looks like there are a lot more providers nowadays, eg oxbridgehomelearning.uk/course/astronomy-gcse/

When I did it (mid 90s) it was mail correspondence, but they’re all online now.

I did about 1/2 of my modules in the summer holidays between Year 9 and Year 10, and then did the rest during evenings/weekends or in the school library at lunchtime. My school let me sit the exam as an external candidate.

Roughly where in the country are you?[/quote]
Thankyou,

I'm Lincs.

@DragonmotherKhaleesi

This one looks like a good option as it’s online and you can study it at your own pace: www.nec.ac.uk/courses/astronomy-gcse/

Aww, I felt quite nostalgic reading back through the module descriptions. I might go and get my text book out and have a lead through.

My text book that Patrick Moore signed for me. I was such a geek 🤓

[quote MaskingForIt]@DragonmotherKhaleesi

I did mine through the Astronomy Centre in Todmorden, but I don’t know if they still do it: www.astronomycentre.org.uk/

Just googling “gcse astronomy” looks like there are a lot more providers nowadays, eg oxbridgehomelearning.uk/course/astronomy-gcse/

When I did it (mid 90s) it was mail correspondence, but they’re all online now.

I did about 1/2 of my modules in the summer holidays between Year 9 and Year 10, and then did the rest during evenings/weekends or in the school library at lunchtime. My school let me sit the exam as an external candidate.

Roughly where in the country are you?[/quote]
Doncaster is our nearest centre for most courses.

yes, only 20% or so. But the attitude to science on here is incredibly depressing.

next 'impressive' one looks to be 2026. No doubt there will be some fuckwit reality show on TV and no-one will be bothered.

If it is a clear day then yes - these experiences are with missing a few hours of school for.

[quote MaskingForIt]@DragonmotherKhaleesi

This one looks like a good option as it’s online and you can study it at your own pace: www.nec.ac.uk/courses/astronomy-gcse/

Aww, I felt quite nostalgic reading back through the module descriptions. I might go and get my text book out and have a lead through.

My text book that Patrick Moore signed for me. I was such a geek 🤓[/quote]
Thankyou very much, I'll have a good look. It really interests me too!

Not a geek at all!

Get to school ffs

I remember the 1999 one, I was 8! I still remember how cold it went and how quiet.

[quote murbblurb]UK - partial eclipse tomorrow from about 10am to 1230 pm. It will not be as good as the 2015 one, let alone the 1999 one.

do NOT look at the sun even with special glasses. You need a colander and a piece of white paper to project the shadows, you'll see the 'bite' out of the sun. Assuming it isn't cloudy, of course.

make a note for 2026 when we'll get a good one. Here's a great website which actually shows you what each eclipse will look like.

www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/uk[/quote]
Thankyou for that link, very helpful