On April 8, 2024, a spectacular and rare celestial event is set to unfold over Canada, the United States and Mexico – a total solar eclipse. As the Moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the Sun, temporary darkness will sweep across parts of the country, captivating countless spectators.
Here is a more detailed map and description of the eclipse from NASA … the map shows percentages of how much you can view the eclipse depending on how far away you are from the actual path of the total eclipse
For example, I’m up near Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie, Ontario … so my area looks like its far from the total eclipse path, so I was disappointed when I viewed every other map that just shows you ‘total elicpse’ or none with no estimate on partial eclipse for a given area. My area is going to see 80% - 85% of the eclipse which is just great for me. I got my eclipse glasses already in the mail and I’m ready to see the moon float in front of the sun.
It’s amazing because everyone all the way out to the American midwest and the entire Atlantic coast will at least see a 50% eclipse.
If you’ve never experienced totality, I highly encourage you to go. The difference between being in the shadow vs out of it makes all the difference. 1-99% eclipse is basically the same vs 100%
Here’s a couple of differences: With totality, the stars become visible again. The darkness is such that air temperature drops like at sunset. Birds stop signing, and insects start chirping. Also, i think you can see the sun’s corona. While the sun is totally blocked, you can look at it with naked eyes.
I’m not sure how much of this occurs with a 95% eclipse… I would encourage anyone to go to the nearest place to see totality. I will personally visit family living 2 hours drive away to be in the totality zone.
I was in an area with 99.8% totality in the 2017 eclipse and all of that happened.
Everyone I know who went to a 100% location described everything you did as the reason for going, but gets annoyed when I explain I experienced literally the exact same thing.
Is it really that much of a difference?
Yes. In totality, you can safely stare at a black hole of a Sun for 2-3 minutes on end, no glasses required, and marvel at the fine details of the corona and the intense red-pink light of the chromosphere. You get to experience a profound bone-chilling realization that we are on a literal rock hurtling through space.
Yeah, that all happened in 99.8% too, so what did I miss?
I doubt you saw all that for 2-3 minutes, but if you’re happy with what you saw then that’s all that matters, really. Enjoy April 8th and clear skies!
❤️
