Overlake Astronomy Teacher Leads Eclipse Viewing

For about an hour on Monday, millions across the United States were united with their protective glasses in hopes of getting a view of the solar eclipse. Faculty and staff at Overlake were among them. 

Led by Math and Science teacher Chris Border who will teach an Astronomy class this fall, Overlakers took time out of their busy schedules preparing for the upcoming school year to experience the eclipse. 

Border set up several stations of viewing the eclipse including a camera, cardboard tube, and shadow boxes. “The more ways you can experience something, the more intense that experience can be,” says Border. “Coming away with a sense of being part of something is really special.” 

He plans to use his data for the Astronomy class and says he’s already been talking to students who will share their experiences as they finished summer vacations across the country. 

Overlake’s eclipse frenzy started weeks ago when Science Chair Lisa Orenstein put out the invitation for free eclipse glasses. The response was so overwhelming that she had a second shipment of glasses that were claimed within the same day of her notice. 

As for why we’re so fascinated by eclipses, Border, who has led classrooms in partial eclipse viewings says, “It’s such a rare phenomenon. To have it get darker and darker through the day is pretty amazing. That experience is something that we all get to share.”  

We have put a video and photo gallery together of our solar eclipse viewing.