Pontiac students get 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity to witness solar eclipse

Although it doesn't seem that long ago, to a high school student, seven years can be an eternity. It was seven years ago when the last solar eclipse was visible in Pontiac and the current class of freshmen weren't allowed to watch.

The year was 2017 where today's adults were most likely able to watch the event in some form, the current freshman class members at Pontiac Township High School did not have the same luck.

“I remember 2017 when we were in second grade,” current PTHS freshman Cassidy Fosdick said. “We weren't able to (watch it) because we were the younger ones. It's really cool to see it now.”

The projected percentage of coverage of the visibility of the eclipse in Livingston County was in the 95-98 percent range, according to various sources. PTHS science teacher Paul Ritter had noted as much as 98 percent in a recent interview.

Ritter and Cal Hackler, another teacher in the department, brought their respective general science classes to the practice field west of the softball field to watch the event.

They weren't the only teachers to allow their students to enjoy the perfect conditions for viewing. Agriculture teacher Jesse Faber allowed his study hall students to witness the event. Art instructor Nick Vogt did the same for his class that met at the time of eclipse.

Fosdick is a member of Ritter's class and pointed out that there were some instructions and information provided regarding watching the event.

“They gave us details on where it shadows and how there would be a smart part coming out of it, like that there would be a lighter side and a darker side coming out of it,” she said.

There were also changes on earth that were quite noticeable as the moon moved closer to near-full coverage of the sun.

“I'm really thankful that we got to come out and see it," Fosdick said.

Ritter was finding the experience for his students to be exciting. It was a lesson that he felt went beyond the classroom.

“For these kids to be out here right now is just a cool opportunity for Cal's and my class to come together and learn about this," Ritter said. "We teach this anyway, but for them to come out and experience it, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. And now these kids are lucky because they got to do it twice because of 2017.”

Ritter was in the mood for watching the eclipse by playing Pink Floyd's album “Dark Side of the Moon.” It was the dark side of the moon that was visible to the millions of eclipse watchers on earth.

While Ritter's choice may have been appropriate, Joyner noted, “I asked him to play 'Total Eclipse (of the Heart).'”

The next eclipse to be visible in Livingston County is predicted to take place in 2044.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Solar eclipse phenomenon witnessed by Pontiac students