2017 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
I don’t know if you remember, but the 2017 Eclipse was an experience to remember. People were so excited, traveling hundreds of miles to witness the eclipse with their own eyes. A phenomenon like this doesn’t happen in everyone’s lifetime, let alone twice.
What is so unique about the 2017 and 2024 eclipses? One reason is the totality, or total eclipse during which the Moon’s disk completely covers the Sun extended the full length of country. 2017 from West Coast to East Coast; and 2024 from Texas to Maine. The next reason is those two eclipses make an X in the center of the continent. Right over southern Illinois and right over where the New Madrid fault is located. It’s fascinating.
OTHER SOLAR ECLIPSES
A list of eclipses seen in the United States can be found here: List of solar eclipses visible from the United States – Wikipedia
MORE INFO ON THE 2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
Nasa: Where & When | 2024 Total Eclipse – NASA Solar System Exploration
Great American Eclipse: Total Solar Eclipse 2024 US — Great American Eclipse
Wikipedia: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 – Wikipedia
National Eclipse: National Eclipse | April 8, 2024 – Total Solar Eclipse
Space.com: Here are the best places to see the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2024 | Space
Eclipse 2024: The path of totality through North America – the Great North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024 | eclipse2024.org
American Astronomical Society: Eclipse America 2024 | Solar Eclipse Across America (aas.org)
Shadow and Substance: Shadow & Substance (shadowandsubstance.com) (Cool visual timelapse)
Interactive Google Map: Mexico – USA – 2024 April 8 Total Solar Eclipse – Interactive Google Map – Xavier Jubier (free.fr)
ECLIPSE GLASSES
There are a lot of options for glasses on Amazon. Note: It is important to remember, the closer to the eclipse, the more the glasses were in short supply. They became very difficult for people to acquire if they tried to get them late. Here are some options:
2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE MAPS
TYPES OF ECLIPSES
Partial Eclipse: A partial eclipse occurs when the Moon partially covers the Sun. This means that from the perspective of an observer on Earth, the Moon appears to take a bite out of the Sun, but the Sun is not completely covered. In a partial eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned, so only a portion of the Sun is obscured.
Annular Eclipse: An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is at its farthest distance from Earth in its elliptical orbit and therefore appears smaller in the sky. When the Moon passes in front of the Sun in this configuration, it doesn’t fully cover the Sun, but instead creates a “ring of fire” effect around the Moon’s silhouette. This occurs because the Sun’s outer rim is still visible around the Moon, creating a bright circle.
Total Eclipse: A total eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun. This means that from the perspective of an observer on Earth, the Sun appears to be completely blocked by the Moon. In a total eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are perfectly aligned, with the Moon positioned directly between the Sun and Earth.
Totality: The term “totality” refers to the period of time during the eclipse when the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon. Totality typically lasts only a few minutes, and the exact duration depends on the location of the observer on Earth and the position of the Moon in its orbit.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOLAR ECLIPSES
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