Mark your calendars for the Total Solar Eclipse, April 8, 2024. For many, viewing a Total Solar Eclipse is “totally” a rare opportunity of a lifetime! NASA even created a 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Trailer for the event. To put this into perspective the next time Kingston is along the line of totality is not until 2399. Yes, other Total Solar Eclipses will occur just not visible from Kingston.
A Total Solar Eclipse is as NASA states is “when the moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun”.
In Kingston, we fall along the line of totality, meaning we will be able to see the face of the sun completely covered by the moon. The sunlight will be blocked out and it will look, feel, and sound like nighttime in the middle of the day. Location dependent, you may even see stars or planets in the sky. Here is an animation by the Canadian Space Agency that shows what to expect to see from Kingston.
Viewing times will vary based on location. In Kingston, the eclipse will happen between 2:09pm - 4:24pm with maximum totality 3:22 - 3:25 p.m. If you are not on the line of totality, NASA will be covering the event, April 8, from 1pm – 4pm EST on NASA TV, NASA.gov, the NASA app, and on YouTube: go.nasa.gov/3OI7nLF
Safety is very important. I’m going to say it again, safety is very important. You must wear ISO certified solar eclipse eye protection for this event. More safety information and wear to get your eclipse glasses can be found here. When you are finished with your glasses, Astronomers Without Borders has a recycling program offering a redistribution program.
What to look for?
Sun’s Corona – Glowing light around the sun when it is in totality.
Diamond Ring – Looks like the name suggests like a diamond ring. Occurs right before and right after totality.
Baily's Beads – What looks like little beads occur along the rim caused by the rugged terrain of the moon.
Crescent Moon Shaped Shadows – Look for these unique shadows!
Shadows through a collider – try it out.
Don’t forget to look at others experiencing the eclipse alongside you!
How to make the event even more fun? Check these out:
Enjoy the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. It’ll be “totally” worth it.