Ottawa students getting excited about the April 8 eclipse
Students in Ottawa are learning about what to expect and how to watch the eclipse, from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).
Grade six student Lamita Aslou is even more enthusiastic about the April 8 Eclipse.
“Like, I'm looking forward to seeing it in person,” she said. “Probably going to ask my parents to go to Kingston, so I can see it. It'll be our first time, and I'm really excited.”
She is amongst other students at Our Lady of Victory School attending a presentation Thursday.
“As part of my passion, I'm really into astronomy and part of the mandate of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is educational outreach. And this is part of what I do,” Dave Chisholm, president of the RASC, Ottawa centre said.
In the weeks leading up to the big day, he has been hosting presentations at various schools.
“Very, very positive reaction. I'm surprised how much they know already know about the eclipse, which is amazing,” he said.
Students are learning about what an eclipse is, what to expect, historic events and scientific discoveries -- and how to stay safe.
“The most important thing I learned today is that we should always be careful looking at the sun because it can blind us permanently,” said Grade six student Esther Saul.
She’s learning about the importance of using proper eclipse safety glasses.
“That if there's a scratch on the glasses that you should not be wearing them during the solar eclipse,” she said.
Students at the school will receive their very own pair of certified glasses, to take home.
“Well, it's so important because this is like a great event for the students to partake in. That shared experience really bonds them together. So, you want to make sure that above all, they're completely safe in doing so,” added Grade six teacher Eric Knight.
The presentation is giving students like Aslou a better understanding of what to expect on Monday.
“I didn't know that, like, an eclipse happened. I don't really know what it was, but now I know a lot about it, and I'm really happy,” she said.
CTV News Ottawa will have special live coverage of Monday's solar eclipse.
Watch CTVNewsOttawa.ca from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 8. You can also tune in to Newstalk 580 CFRA for continuing coverage.
CTV News will have coverage from Kingston, Brockville, Ottawa and the Niagara Region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
The push to Parliament's summer hiatus is about to begin, here's what you need to know
When MPs file back in to the House of Commons on Tuesday, it will be for the final five-week parliamentary push before hitting the barbecue circuit. Looking ahead to what could be a raucous rush to the summer hiatus, CTVNews.ca spoke with top House representatives to get a sense of what's atop their priority list.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Michael Cohen to face more grilling as Trump's hush money trial enters its final stretch
Donald Trump's hush money trial is heading into the final stretch, with prosecutors' last and star witness back on the stand Monday for more grilling before the former president's lawyers get their chance to put on a case.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.