Eclipse is a week away. How long it lasts, times and where to get glasses
The 2024 solar eclipse, set for April 8, is a week away, and with the next total solar eclipse taking place in 20 years, you won't want to miss it.
Even if you're not in the path of totality, like most of Kentucky, you can still watch the rare phenomenon. You'll need solar eclipse glasses to take in the experience, and there are plenty of local areas to travel to for the event. Luckily, there's still some time to make plans for the spectacle.
Free eclipse glasses near me: April 8 total solar eclipse will be here before you know it. Don't wait to get your glasses.
When is the solar eclipse 2024?
The solar eclipse is slated for Monday, April 8, across North America, passing over parts of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
What is a solar eclipse?
According to National Geographic, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, creating a shadow on our planet called an umbra.
There are also different kinds of eclipses. A total eclipse occurs when the moon blocks out the entire sun and a partial eclipse occurs when the moon only blocks part of the sun.
What is a total solar eclipse? What happens during a total solar eclipse?
According to the IU official website, a total eclipse takes place when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth, placing the Earth in its shadow. The time it takes place, as well as the duration, are influenced by factors like the distances between the sun, moon and Earth, the moon’s phase and the axial tilt of the Earth and moon.
Does it get dark during a total solar eclipse?
Yes. The closer one's location is to totality, the greater the darkness and duration. During a total solar eclipse, the moon eventually lines up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, blocking out light.
Total solar eclipse 2024 path: Where to see it
According to NASA, Mexico’s Pacific coast will first experience the eclipse around 11:07 a.m. PDT. The eclipse path will then enter the U.S. in Texas, traveling through the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Main. Some parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also experience the phenomenon.
From there, the eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, traveling through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton before exiting North America on the Atlantic coast around 5:16 p.m. NDT in Newfoundland, Canada.
To see the full path of totality, click here.
Best places to see eclipse 2024
While Louisville isn’t on the path of totality, plenty of cities nearby and within driving distance are. To see the eclipse for longer durations, Indiana cities like Bloomington and Indianapolis are the place to be, with some of the longest periods of totality or darkness in the area.
Evansville
Unlike most of Indiana, Evansville is on Central time. In Evansville, the eclipse starts at 12:46 p.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m., according to National Eclipse. Totality is a little over three minutes from 2:02 p.m. to 2:05 p.m.
Bloomington
The eclipse begins at 1:49 p.m. and ends at 4:22 p.m., according to the City of Bloomington. Totality will last around four minutes, from 3:04 p.m. to 3:08 p.m.
Indianapolis
The eclipse begins at 1:50 p.m. and concludes at 4:23 p.m. Totality is expected to last three minutes and 49 seconds, from 3:06 p.m. to 3:09 p.m., according to the interactive map.
Fort Wayne
According to Visit Fort Wayne, the eclipse starts at 1:53 p.m. and ends at 4:24 p.m. The duration of the eclipse is about two minutes and 45 seconds, with maximum totality at 3:10 p.m.
See more Indiana cities below:
What time is the solar eclipse 2024 in Kentucky?
The times of the upcoming solar eclipse vary by location. In Kentucky, it spans over two hours, beginning before 2 p.m. and ending after 4 p.m. in most places.
Kentucky: When can I see the total solar eclipse in Kentucky? Look it up by your ZIP code.
Indiana: What time is the eclipse on April 8? Find out times, durations of total solar eclipse
What time is the 2024 solar eclipse in Louisville?
Click here to see solar eclipse times in Kentucky:
How long will the eclipse last 2024?
The partial phase of the eclipse lasts close to a few hours, with totality reaching over four minutes in some places.
2024 solar eclipse path Kentucky
According to a news release from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the total solar eclipse will be visible on the afternoon of Monday, April 8. At around 2 p.m. CDT, the eclipse will impact eight counties in the state and clip portions of four others.
The impacted eight counties include Fulton, Hickman, Ballard, McCracken, Livingston, Crittenden, Union and Henderson. The other four where the eclipse will be visible in some spots are Carlisle, Graves, Webster and Daviess.
In Kentucky, the total eclipse will last around one to three minutes, with Paducah as a popular spot. Major cities on the path of totality in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois will see the total eclipse for four or more minutes.
Paducah
According to the City of Paducah, the city will see around two minutes of totality, as Paducah sits on the edge of the path. The eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. with totality starting at 2 p.m. Totality will end at 2:02 p.m. and the eclipse will end at 3:18 p.m.
Weather April 8, 2024, in Louisville
The NWS office in Paducah created a climatology page to compare what weather conditions have looked like on April 8 in the afternoon over the last ten years.
Based on the report, historically, there is potential for cloud cover on the day of the eclipse, but it's important to remember there is plenty of time for the forecast to change.
Eclipse safety: How to stay safe during it
As reported by NASA, there are plenty of ways to stay safe while watching the eclipse. These include:
Use eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer to view the sun during partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
During the totality period, when no part of the sun is visible through the eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer, individuals can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection.
Once the sun reappears, place eclipse glasses back on or use the handheld solar viewer to continue watching.
Avoid using glasses or handheld viewers with binoculars, telescopes or cameras unless they have the proper solar filters.
If planning to watch an entire eclipse, wear sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing to avoid skin damage.
Solar eclipse glasses near Louisville
Learn about the eclipse and get free glasses at the Louisville public library.
Why do you need eclipse glasses?
Eclipse glasses are necessary to protect one's eyes from the sun and to avoid vision damage. Looking at the sun without proper eyewear can result in severe eye damage.
Can you look at a total solar eclipse?
Eclipse glasses are needed at all times, except during the brief total phase of the total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun's bright light.
How to photograph a solar eclipse
Solar eclipse glasses, along with a solar filter for the camera lens, are necessary for photographing the event. See more below.
Don't break your camera during the eclipse. Learn to shoot it right from the pros
NASA solar eclipse 2024
NASA will be broadcasting the eclipse on April 8, including at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis.
What to wear for the total solar eclipse 2024
According to experts at Solar Eyeglasses, it’s best to wear shades of red and green and avoid neutral tones for the solar eclipse. Find out why below.
Here's which colors you should wear, avoid during the total solar eclipse this April
Is 'eclipse sickness' a real thing? Do celestial events cause heightened anxiety?
Is 'eclipse sickness' real? What to know about anxiety and how to manage it on April 8
National guard solar eclipse 2024
As posted on TikTok, the National Guard is being deployed to Texas for the April 8 solar eclipse. Cities along the path of totality are canceling classes and anticipating increased traffic.
According to a news release from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, authorities expect the solar eclipse to bring at least 150,000 visitors to Western Kentucky counties, with over one million expected to travel through the area to other viewing spots on the path of totality.
Will the eclipse affect my pets? Will it affect other animals?
The upcoming eclipse can increase anxiety for pets, more so dogs, and it's recommended to leave them at home. If they have to tag along, it's best to have a plan in place and avoid forcing them to look at the sun. Dogs don't have the instinct to look up at the sun and glasses aren't necessary.
Is the April 2024 eclipse safe for pets? Why experts want you to leave them at home.
Will the 2024 solar eclipse impact cell service?
Possibly. According to NASA, a solar eclipse impacts Earth's upper atmosphere, the ionosphere, due to the sudden reduction of solar radiation reaching the Earth's atmosphere. "Since the ionosphere contains charged particles (ions and electrons) and is responsible for reflecting and refracting radio waves, changes to the ionosphere can also affect radio communications and navigation systems."
"While solar eclipses can have noticeable effects on the ionosphere, they are generally temporary and localized to the region experiencing the eclipse. The ionosphere typically returns to its normal state after the eclipse event is over, and solar radiation levels return to normal," according to NASA.
Will I have cell service during 2024 solar eclipse? What to know about effects in Louisville.
When was the last solar eclipse?
The last partial solar eclipse took place on October 14, 2023. According to NASA, an annular solar eclipse created a “ring of fire” in the sky from Oregon to Texas
When was the last total solar eclipse?
The last time the U.S. had a total solar eclipse from coast to coast was Aug. 21, 2017.
2017 solar eclipse path
In 2017, the total solar eclipse began in the northern Pacific and crossed the U.S. from west to east through parts of the following states: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina.
Past total solar eclipse dates
There have been 15 total eclipses in the U.S. since 1867, according to Weather Underground. These were in 1869, 1878, 1889, 1900, 1918, 1923, 1925, 1930, 1932, 1945, 1954, 1959, 1963, 1970 and 1979. Of these, only one traversed the entire country coast to coast, the one in 1918.
When is the next total solar eclipse after 2024?
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. following the April occurrence won’t be until Aug. 23, 2044.
How often is a solar eclipse?
Solar eclipses take place pretty frequently, occurring two to five times per year, according to the Natural History Museum. However, a total solar eclipse typically takes place every 18 months, around a year and a half apart.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, but when it is at or near its farthest point from Earth. The moon, farther away from Earth, appears smaller than the sun and doesn't completely cover it, according to NASA.
Lunar eclipse 2024: How often are they?
Lunar eclipses occur at the full moon phase and are only visible from half of Earth. When the Earth is positioned precisely between the moon and the sun, the Earth’s shadow falls upon the surface of the moon, dimming it and sometimes turning the lunar surface a striking red over a few hours.
The next lunar eclipse will be on Sept. 17, 2024, with a total lunar eclipse on March 14, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Solar eclipse 2024: How often is total solar eclipse?
