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
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
BREAKING Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
Person charged in random assault on actor Steve Buscemi in New York
A person wanted in connection with the random assault on actor Steve Buscemi on a New York City street earlier this month was taken into custody Friday, police said.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
A look back at Alberta's record-breaking wildfire season
By the end of the 2023 wildfire season in Alberta, 1,088 wildfires had burned more than 2.2 million hectares of land, and this year, the wildfire season is already in full swing.