OCALA, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE: Reminder, the solar eclipse happens this Saturday, October 14. Here’s the forecast for Saturday’s eclipse-watching events. You might want to consider a trip to Micanopy’s Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center to find other eager eclipse observers. Learn more about the center’s plans here.
ORIGINAL 9/27: We’ll be treated to not one – but two – impressive celestial events in the coming months. Where you are when they occur, will impact just how good of a view you’ll have.
Scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) held a news conference late Tuesday afternoon to discuss two upcoming eclipses – when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth – and what they hope to learn from the experiments they’ll be conducting during them.
The first, an annular eclipse, will cross from Oregon to Texas on Saturday, Oct. 14. NASA says in an annular solar eclipse, the moon covers most of the sun leaving what they describe as a “ring of fire” around the edges.
The second event, a total solar eclipse, takes place on Monday, April 8, 2024, passing from Texas to Maine. In this one, NASA says the moon will completely block the sun making the corona, the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, visible as a ghostly-white edge.
Best Places for Eclipse Viewing
NASA has released a new map that details the path of the moon’s shadow. You can view an interactive version here.
This map provided by NASA shows the path of both the annular and total eclipses. Courtesy: NASA/Scientific Visualization Studio/Michala Garrison; eclipse calculations by Ernie Wright, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
The dark paths on the map show where observers will need to be for the best views and what time it will occur. On both dates, all 48 contiguous states will experience at least a partial solar eclipse. Faint yellow and purple lines on the map running parallel to each path correspond to percentages indicating how much of the sun will become covered by the moon during the partial eclipse.
What to Expect in the 352
In the 352 area, for the annular eclipse in October, NASA estimates 55% of the sun will be covered. For the April total eclipse, we should expect 60 to 65% of the sun will be blocked.
Safely Viewing an Eclipse
Eclipse viewing can be fun, inspirational and educational – as long as it’s done safely. NASA says all eclipse-watchers will need to use special eye protection – such as eclipse glasses or an indirect viewing method. NASA warns that eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses, and no matter how dark, sunglasses are not safe for viewing the eclipse. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
We checked online and found the special eclipse glasses for sale for as little as $1/pair for a 10-pack.
If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can use an indirect viewing method. One way is to use a pinhole projector, which has a small opening (for example, a hole punched in an index card) and projects an image of the Sun onto a surface like a sidewalk. With the sun at your back, you can then safely view the projected image.
If you can’t view it in person, NASA will provide live coverage of the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
What Scientists Hope to Learn
In addition to captivating millions of sky gazers, the total solar eclipse gives scientists a unique opportunity to study the sun, Earth, and their interactions. NASA is funding five experiments which are led by researchers at different academic institutions. The projects range from using cameras aboard research planes to capture images of the eclipse from an altitude of 50,000 feet above Earth’s surface to engaging amateur “ham” radio operators to determine how the lack of sun impacts the distance radio waves can travel and the strength of the signal.
Other projects encourage participation from citizen scientists who will observe solar active regions or soundscapes which will enlist the public’s help to collect multisensory observations and recorded sounds to help scientists understand the impact of solar eclipses on various ecosystems.
For more information about eclipses, how to safely view them and how to get involved, visit NASA’s website.