Henderson will be in ‘totality’ for the solar eclipse on April 8
HENDERSON, Ky. − The last total solar eclipse that will be seen in the Lower 48 states for 20 years is coming on the afternoon of April 8, and Henderson will be right in its path.
But that also means eclipse enthusiasts from outside our area are expected to flood into town, which could bring some brief economic benefits but is also prompting authorities to warn about possible traffic jams, long lines at restaurants and even the possibility of some filling stations running out of gasoline.
And if you intend to witness the celestial event — and why wouldn’t you? — you need to be sure to acquire proper eclipse glasses.
Here’s an overview of what Henderson could see and experience:
What’s an eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, completely blotting out the Sun. That totality is experienced only in a narrow corridor of the Earth, and on April 8, Henderson will be in that path of totality.
“Not all parts of Henderson County will be in totality,” Abby Dixon, executive director of the Henderson Tourist Commission, who has been preparing for this event for years, said. “The (extreme) southeast part of the county won’t be in totality.”
According to the National Solar Observatory’s interactive map at nso.edu/eclipse2024/, at the Henderson riverfront, the Moon will slowly begin blocking the Sun at 12:45 p.m., then slowly block more and more. The total eclipse at the riverfront will begin at 2:02 p.m. and last for two minutes and 35 seconds. The maximum eclipse will be at 2:03 p.m., when the Sun will appear as a black ball in the sky surrounded by a glow, which will be its corona, or illuminated outer atmosphere.
Totality will end at 2:05 p.m., and the entire event will be over here by 3:20 p.m.
“In the path of totality, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, the sky will become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk,” according to NASA.gov. Streetlights are likely to come on. Insects will start singing, and near ponds or lakes, frogs, which are nocturnal, might begin croaking. The temperature could drop as much as 10 degrees, depending on cloud cover.
Of course, if there is heavy cloud cover, the eclipse might not be visible at all, aside from the sky darkening.
To find out whether your planned viewing location will be in 100% totality, visit nso.edu/eclipse2024, zoom in and click on that exact location. A pop-up window will verify totality, provide start, maximum and ending times and tell you how long totality will last at that location.
How should it be viewed?
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” NASA warns at its website. “Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
“When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. You can also use an indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector.”
NASA adds: “Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker” and ought to comply with a specific international standard. Parents are urged to carefully supervise their children’s viewing of the event.
Fortunately, eclipse glasses aren’t expensive; Dixon said the Henderson Tourist Commission sells ISO 12312-2-certified glasses for just $3 at its gift shop at The Depot at 101 N. Water St., for example.
Tips for safe viewing that NASA posted for the last total solar eclipse over the U.S. in 2017 are available at eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety.
Are there special events?
There are three public watch parties in Henderson County that day:
Farmer and Frenchman Winery is offering a solar eclipse lunch and viewing event. Doors open at at 10:30 a.m. and a four-course lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $60 per person and are available at its website and Facebook page.
Boucherie Winery will host a View from the Vineyard. Details will be released on its Facebook page.
Ellis Park will host a viewing party that starts at noon. Food and drink will be available, and the first 100 attendees will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses. Attendees are invited to bring chairs or blankets.
The Henderson riverfront, Redbanks Park and schoolyards — really, any unobscured location — should also provide excellent viewing, just without the amenities of the watch parties.
There will also be the “Lost in Space” celestial-themed art exhibition presented by the Ohio Valley Art League at the Dick & Sheila Beaven Gallery at the Henderson County Public Library from March 25 through June 21.
Are tourists expected?
They are.
“Predictions are there will be an influx of 80,000 people coming into (the Tri-state),” Dixon said. That includes some people who will stay overnight and many who will just come, watch and leave.
The Henderson Tourist Commission is encouraging eclipse watchers to visit here and, hopefully spend money at restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations and perhaps hotels.
“At the (John James Audubon) State Park, every campsite and cabin was booked months and months ago,” Dixon said. “Some of our hoteliers have put a minimum number of nights” to make a reservation, such as requiring guests to book both Sunday and Monday nights, which she said would help with traffic by reducing somewhat the number of people departing as soon as the eclipse is over.
Still, she said, “There are going to be delays.”
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued a news release declaring that “state and local agencies are continuing to plan for traffic surges” on April 8.
Totality will take place over eight Kentucky counties — Hickman, Carlisle, Ballard, McCracken, Livingston, Crittenden, Union and Henderson (plus a portion of Webster County, such as near Poole) — which the cabinet said “is expected to bring at least 150,000 visitors” to those counties.
“The most significant traffic rush is expected after the eclipse ends there and along Kentucky’s north-south highways as eclipse watchers head home,” the cabinet said.
“Traffic into and through Western Kentucky along Interstate 24, Interstate 69 and U.S. 41 is expected to be congested, as is traffic along the Pennyrile Parkway before, during and after the eclipse,” it said. “The eclipse will add traffic to U.S. 231 and I-165, as well as I-64, I-65, I-71, I-75 and other north-south corridors that parallel these routes. Immediately after the eclipse, there is particular concern about traffic delays at Kentucky’s Ohio River crossings, where traffic from the main eclipse path to the north will enter Kentucky.”
Dixon, who has been participating in local and regional planning meetings, said there are plans for positioning tow trucks on each end of the U.S. 41 Twin Bridges in case of a crash.
When the last total solar eclipse occurred in the U.S. on Aug 21, 2017, the greatest extent (width) of the event occurred near Hopkinsville, and it became a mecca as an estimated 116,500 visitors poured into Christian County for the spectacle. Afterward, state highways were clogged for hours as those folks returned home.
This time, “We are encouraging area businesses across Kentucky to plan ahead for the influx of visitors,” Kentucky Emergency Management Interim Director Dustin Heiser said in a news release. “While Kentucky is not the epicenter for eclipse chasers as it was in 2017, the potential for shortages of fuel, water, food and other staples will exist. We encourage residents and businesses to make eclipse plans with that in mind.”
State Transportation Secretary Jim Gray urged travelers to prepare for that day as they would for a severe snow event, such as packing an emergency car kit with essential items for all passengers and even to bring printed travel directions in case there are cell service disruptions that would impact navigational apps.
Local businesses are encouraged to prepare as well, such as scheduling food and fuel deliveries at night to avoid traffic, stocking extra essentials such as bottled beverages, urging employees to have a full tank of gas before visitors arrive and, for filling stations, having underground tanks filled before April 8.
Any steps being taken?
Indeed. Henderson County Schools and Holy Name School will be closed on the day of the eclipse, which will keep school traffic off the roads that afternoon.
And the Interstate 69 construction project team plans to remove all lane closures that day, which would leave two lanes open northbound and southbound on the U.S. 41-Bypass and both eastbound and westbound on outer Second Street/Kentucky 351, although lane shifts and narrow lanes will still be in place.
How can I learn more?
Three experts will discuss the upcoming eclipse at a presentation at the Henderson County Public Library from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26.
Christine Wielgos, warning coordination meteorologist with NOAA in Paducah, KY and Wayne Hart, chief meteorologist with WEHT-TV will partner to educate the audience about what is a solar eclipse, what are the other types of eclipses, a history of eclipses since the 1800s, eclipse safety, a weather climatology and forecast.
Tim Troutman, deputy director of weather preparedness with Henderson County Office of Emergency Management and the CEO of Disaster Resiliency Experts LLC, will talk about travel considerations and emergency management planning for the upcoming solar eclipse.
When’s the next total eclipse?
The next total solar eclipse in the Lower 48 states will take place Aug. 23, 2044, but in the U.S. that will be experienced only in a swath of Montana and a corner of North Dakota.
On Aug. 12, 2045, the path of a total eclipse will cross the country from California to Florida, but will be well south of Kentucky. So, Henderson, this is your big chance.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Henderson will be in ‘totality’ for the solar eclipse on April 8
