Story updated at 9:56 a.m. Monday with the latest weather information from weather.com.

As classes begin Monday, some have wondered if Rockhurst University would cancel classes Monday afternoon during the widely anticipated solar eclipse. That doesn’t appear to be the case, though, according to Douglas Dunham, Chief Academic Officer at Rockhurst.

Dunham sent a campus-wide email Thursday morning that helped answer questions. “As rare as it is, it is the first day of classes,” Dunham said in his email. “If your schedule allows, then you are invited to come to Lower Bourke Field (east of the soccer field and in front of the social activities hall) to join the Rockhurst University Department of Physics for a viewing of what’s being called ‘The Great American Solar Eclipse.’

“If you have a class scheduled during that time, then please plan on reporting to your class, as scheduled, unless you hear otherwise from your instructor. Please do not email your instructor to find our if class is delayed; your instructor will notify you if there is any alteration to your schedule.” That may not have been the answer students wanted to hear regarding the possibility to view the eclipse, but some professors have already contacted students giving them their permission to view the eclipse.

According to the Kansas City Star, the last time the Kansas City area was in such a great position to view a solar eclipse was 1806. Rockhurst’s campus will be at 99.940 percent blockage (near totality). In our area viewers can first expect to see the shadow of the moon at approximately 11:41 a.m. and the maximum blockage will happen at 1:09 p.m. Dunham cautioned that solar glasses “must be worn” if looking at the sun. Rockhurst will provide solar glasses and informational handouts to students Monday during the eclipse.

Here are a few links from credible sources to get deeper information on the eclipse:

• Kansas City Star: “Astronomer shares pro tip for finding the best place to watch the eclipse“
• KCUR: “Where to go watch the solar eclipse in and around Kansas City“
• Kansas City Star: “Birds, chimps, your dog: Total solar eclipses prompt some unusual behaviors“
• Eclipse2017.org: A map to find out when and where you can see the eclipse

According to an hour-by-hour forecast at weather.com, the forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies through the rest of the afternoon. There is a small chance of precipitation.

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