A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth at just the right moment causing the sun to appear dark and the sky to darken. This year, the eclipse is predicted to last about four minutes on April 8 of this year. It would be 28 seconds of total darkness which is two times as long as the previous solar eclipse that darkened our bright day in 2017.
There are a few cities that are right in the center of the eclipse action and get the best view. Those cities include Dallas Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Montreal. These cities make up the continent’s biggest crowd. Even the places that do not have the luxury of seeing this eclipse at its full capacity still be able to see some slither of the eclipse even if it isn’t the entire thing. For example, in Oregon, both Portland and Seattle are the farthest a place can get from the eclipse in the US, and still a third of the sun will be overtaken by the moon.
While there are ways to safely view the eclipse without causing any harm yourself, normal sunglasses will not cut it for this situation. Special eclipse glasses are a necessity for those wishing to view this sunblockage. During totality, once the sun is completely engulfed by the moon, it is completely safe to view the eclipse with the naked eye but before and after the eclipse is in motion, the correct eye protection is needed in order to stay away from eye damage. Also, make sure the eye protection of choice is in perfect condition without scratches or tears. Telescopes, cameras, and binoculars are all unfit for the proper protection of the eyes during any eclipse. The naked eye should never view the bare sun without a barrier any day of the year but this one is extra special and needs extra care.
“The reason that you have to wear specific protective eyewear is because the sun can burn your retina and you can go blind,” said Earth and Space Science teacher Ms. Nichols. “Though they say you can look at the eclipse during totality for a few seconds without going blind, I wouldn’t take that risk”.
Solar eclipses occur about every two to three years, usually in the middle of nowhere such as Antarctica or the South Pacific. The next total solar eclipse is predicted to occur in the year 2026. It will be seen in the northern areas of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. North America will not be graced with another solar eclipse until about the year 2033 with Alaska receiving more than most of the action. There will not be another US eclipse that spans from coast to coast until 2045 which will stretch all the way from California to Florida. Excluding Illinois, which shared the experience of both the 2017 and the 2024 solar eclipse, it takes 400 to 1000 years before totality returns to the same area.
“Total solar eclipses are really rare because only a very small part of the Earth can see it because the shadow is so small. So, it is pretty unique that we had one back-to-back” said Ms. Nichols.
During this year’s total solar eclipse, keep your eyes safe and peeled for the beautiful day darkening on April 8, 2024.
