Upcoming Total Solar Eclipse: It is almost time for the final total eclipse in twenty years. Attend or anticipate the subsequent event in 2044. Observers of the sky, the Great American Eclipse is approaching. The last total eclipse over North America will occur on April 8; it will not occur again until 2044. You should book accommodations and travel to a location along the path of totality as soon as possible if you desire a close observation but do not currently reside in its path.
A total solar eclipse transpires when the moon traverses the space between the Earth and the sun, obstructing the sun and momentarily converting an otherwise bright day into darkness. The eclipse may appear as totality, where the moon completely blocks out the sun, or as a variation thereof, depending on the viewing angle. There is a decreasing probability of observing the totality the further one is from the path of the eclipse and the more off-angle one is.
The date of the 2024 total solar eclipse is April 8, Monday. At 11:07 a.m. PT/2:07 p.m. ET, the Great American Eclipse will reach the Mexican Pacific coast before gradually passing through the United States and Canada.
What about reserving an aircraft seat? Delta Airlines’ provision of a flight that offers a complete view of the path of totality garnered significant attention. Rapidly selling out was the inaugural eclipse flight from Austin, Texas, to Detroit. However, Delta has added a second flight from Dallas to Detroit that traverses the path of totality as of Monday. Additionally, five of the airline’s flights will provide ideal eclipse viewing.
Undoubtedly, not everyone can secure one of those elusive flights to observe the eclipse. Here is an overview of alternative ways to obtain an opportunity to observe this uncommon phenomenon, as well as pertinent information regarding it.
Path of total solar eclipse
The eclipse will traverse the northeast over the mainland of Mexico after crossing the Pacific coast of Mexico. On April 8, at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET, the eclipse will pass over San Antonio before traversing Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, and northern Arkansas by 2:50 p.m. ET.
The eclipse will pass over southern Illinois by 3 p.m. Eastern Time and will cross Indianapolis within five minutes. At 3:15 p.m. ET, the eclipse will be visible in northwest Ohio; by 3:20 p.m. ET, it will have passed over Buffalo, New York, and Lake Erie. The eclipse will be visible over northern New York state for the next ten minutes, followed by Vermont. The eclipse will traverse Canada and pass off the eastern coast of North America by 3:35 p.m. ET.
Optimal viewing locations for the Great American Eclipse
To ascertain the optimal locations for observing the current year’s total eclipse, one must initially ascertain the location from which one will obtain the most favorable vantage point. One can anticipate a diminished impact as one moves further north or south of the eclipse’s path or further off-angle.
Therefore, you will want to be on the eclipse’s path if you wish to have the greatest opportunity to observe it. As of this writing, there are hotels available in the majority of cities along the path of the eclipse; however, recent reports indicate that rooms are quickly filling up. Additionally, as more accommodations are reserved, rates increase. For example, hotel rates in Rochester, New York, are surpassing $1,000 per night on April 8 due to the increasing demand for that particular date. Certain Rochester hotels are fully reserved.
Move swiftly if you desire to be in the path of the eclipse and require a hotel to do so.
In contrast, as of the time of publication, Delta’s eclipse-viewing flight from Dallas to Detroit costs between $739 and $1,150.
Solar Eclipse 2024: List of Total Solar Eclipse To Be Witnessed
Eclipse photography and ocular protection
As with any solar eclipse, eye protection is of the utmost importance.
Avoid direct sunlight exposure during the eclipse, particularly in the moments preceding and following totality, by donning specialized eye protection. Additionally, avoid observing the sun through binoculars, a telescope, a camera (including the one on your phone), or any other viewing device. This may result in severe ocular damage. Sunglasses do not provide adequate protection against ocular damage.
To observe the eclipse, one must utilize solar viewing spectacles that adhere to the safety standard ISO 12312. Anything falling short of or exceeding that threshold will fail to provide adequate darkness to safeguard one’s eyes.
In the absence of eclipse viewing spectacles, one may employ alternative means of observing the eclipse, such as a pinhole projector.
If you intend to capture images of the eclipse, affix a solar filter that has been certified to your camera. By doing so, you will safeguard your eyes and be able to utilize your lens to capture photographs of the eclipse.
2017 eclipse in comparison to 2024
In 2017, the previous total solar eclipse transpired, affording numerous Americans a bird’s-eye view. While numerous parallels can be drawn between the total solar eclipse of 2017 and the upcoming event on April 8, several distinctions do exist. In general, the eclipse of 2024 will continue to last longer and encompass a larger area.
The 2017 eclipse began in the northwest of the United States and progressed to the southeast. In addition, the path of that eclipse reached a maximum width of 71 miles, whereas the path of the current eclipse reached a maximum width of 122 miles. Possibly most significantly, in 2017, the moon obscured the sun entirely for a brief duration of two minutes and forty seconds. Maximum totality will occur for approximately four and a half minutes this year.