Your guide to viewing the 2024 partial solar eclipse in Hagerstown, Tri-State area

The Herald-Mail
·4 min read

On Monday, many Americans will have the chance to view a potentially once-in-a-lifetime event: a total solar eclipse. In the Tri-State area, residents who stay in town won't catch the total eclipse, but they'll get a pretty good view of the partial eclipse.

The moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun on April 8, with about 91-92% of the sun blocked, which would darken the sky in our viewing area. Of course, the weather Monday will play a big part on how much of the eclipse will be visible here. Even so, most school students will get the chance to try to watch this rare event.

In addition, plenty of organizations, libraries and other facilities are looking to get in on the action with special events.

Here's everything you need to know as the region prepares for this rare spectacle.

Catch live coverage of the 2024 eclipse

What is the weather forecast for the Tri-State area?

On Thursday, the forecast was calling for mainly cloudy skies for Washington County, Md., and Franklin County, Pa., according to National Weather Service meteorologists.

“It’s not going to be an exceptional day,” said John Banhoff in State College, Pa. There won’t be dense cloud cover, but it won’t be crystal clear either, he explained Thursday.

Weather forecast: Updated National Weather Service information

Hagerstown events/places to watch the solar eclipse

Events/places to watch the eclipse on Monday, April 8, in the Hagerstown area:

  • Solar Eclipse Viewing Party: 2 to 4 p.m. Waynesboro Area Senior High School Stadium, 550 E. Second St., Waynesboro, Pa. Hosted by The Institute of Waynesboro, Pa.; the Waynesboro Area School District; and NASA.

  • Solar Eclipse Viewing Party: 2 to 4 p.m. University Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Hagerstown. Hosted by Downtown Hagerstown.

  • 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Hagerstown: 2:03 to 4:32 p.m. 1089 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown. Hosted by www.ilovesolareclipse.com. Purchase solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing. Go to www.ilovesolareclipse.com for a list of trusted vendors or local stores where you can obtain certified glasses. Bring camera.

  • Eclipse Party! 3 to 4 p.m. Washington County Free Library, Fletcher Branch Lower Level Patio, 100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. For children ages 6 to 12, accompanied by an adult. Free eclipse glasses. Music, games, snacks, art project. No registration necessary. Call 301-739-3250 or email dvaughn@washcolibrary.org.

  • Family Eclipse Activity: 1 to 3 p.m., Shepherdstown Public Library, 145 Higbee Lane, Shepherdstown, W.Va., Solar eclipse watching and activities. Call 304-876-2783.

  • Eclipse Watching Party! 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library, Martha's Garden (rain location - Community Room), 45 E. Main St., Waynesboro, Pa. For all ages. Refreshments and activity sheets provided. Bring eclipse glasses and/or pinhole camera. Call 717-762-3335 or email STAFF@AHMFL.ORG.

  • Solar Eclipse Party! 2 to 6 p.m. GearHouse Brewing Company, 253 Grant St., Chambersburg, Pa. Fun and food outdoors (moved indoors if bad weather). Free admission.

  • Potluck Picnic & Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing Party: 1 to 5 p.m., Friends Wilderness Center, 305 Friends Way, Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Share superstitions and folklore about solar eclipses. Bring solar eclipse glasses. Free-will donation, participants are kindly requested to consider a $20/person minimum donation to support facilities. Organized by Friends Wilderness Center.

How much of the eclipse will local residents be able to see?

Hagerstown and the Tri-State area are not in the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse, but if weather permits area residents should be able to see close to a total eclipse.

Folks in Hagerstown could see 91.19% of the sun eclipsed that day at the event's peak, according to an email from Dan Kaminsky, TriState Astronomers' outreach coordinator.

For the Hagerstown area, the eclipse will start around 2 p.m. and finish shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to an eclipse calculator provided by USA TODAY.

When is the solar eclipse? Enter ZIP code to see when to head outside

How to protect your eyes during eclipse

Not all eclipse glasses are created equal, and just a few seconds of looking directly into the sun could cause permanent damage. Dr. Ann Teng, from United Health Services in New York, recommends using a pair of certified eclipse glasses and testing them out before you view the eclipse.

Can you drive during a solar eclipse?

It's safe to drive during an eclipse as long as you don't look up at the sky. AAA is telling drivers to be focused on the road if they are operating a car during the total solar eclipse.

The automobile insurance company is advising Americans who want to safely view the total eclipse to find a safe place to park and then wear your eclipse glasses to view the eclipse.

Authorities are also reminding people to not drive while wearing solar eclipse glasses. Eclipse glasses are designed specifically for viewing an eclipse and you would not be able to see the road adequately while wearing them.

USA TODAY reporters contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Eclipse: What Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Waynesboro viewers need to know