Rare sky event

Gisborne Secondary College students take in the rare sight of a partial solar eclipse. Photo: Chris Fleming

Gisborne Secondary College students rose early last Friday in order to take in the rare sight of a partial solar eclipse.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, and the moon fully or partially blocks the sun.

Most of the country saw a partial eclipse, while those in the northern parts of Australia saw the annular eclipse, which is also called a 'ring of fire eclipse'.

Gisborne Secondary College has been loaned a computerised research-grade telescope from Melbourne University for three years, as part of the Telescopes in Schools program.

"Part of the deal is that we run astronomy nights and days for the community, the school and anyone interested in the field," said science coordinator, Dale Barry.

"(The program) promotes science within the school and certainly gets more students thinking about studying science at uni and following that career path."

The students' photos and comments will appear on the Melbourne University School of Physics/Astrophysics' Telescopes in Schools website.

GSC is one of 10 schools involved in the program.