Zimmer-Biomet donated eye-safety glasses so the students could view the partial eclipse seen over Indiana Aug. 21.

WARSAW — Thanks to Zimmer-Biomet’s donation of ISO12312-2 solar viewing glasses, students at Warsaw Community High School were able to view the partial solar eclipse that occurred this afternoon, Aug. 21, around 2:23 p.m.

Principal Troy Akers made an announcement before releasing the students advising the importance of keeping eye protection on at all times when viewing the eclipse, as exposure to harmful rays could cause serious eye damage.

Students were clearly excited as they filed out of the school. As they spent around 15 minutes watching the partial eclipse pass, many of the students could be heard commenting on how “cool” the eclipse was. “Wow” and “awesome” were other frequently heard comments.

Northern Indiana did not get to witness a total eclipse, where the moon completely covers the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere, called the corona, can be seen. In comparison, the partial eclipse experienced today blocked out roughly 91 percent of the sun’s light.

While it is rare to witness a total solar eclipse, partial eclipses occur frequently. The last occurrence that was viewable in our area was Oct. 23, 2014.

The next total solar eclipse in North America will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of the totality will pass through central Indiana, making the view even more spectacular than today’s.