Wednesday, May 1, 2024
After months of waiting to catch the upcoming total solar eclipse, many people might wonder what they will experience when it finally arrives.
A total eclipse occurs when the earth, moon, and sun line up in space, leading to a several minutes of darkness when the moon blocks the sun. The development of a total eclipse occurs in several stages. According to NASA, the moon spends approximately one hour gradually covering the sun.
During the partial phases of the eclipse, people might notice shadows of small solar crescents on the ground. It is essential to use protective solar glasses during this stage of the eclipse.
About 15 minutes before totality, the light will begin to change and grow darker. According to NASA, “The light may look eerie or strange. Even if it’s cloudy and you can’t see the sun, the skies will still grow darker.”
The natural environment might also notice the gradual shift. This includes changes in wildlife behavior, such as birds and insects that act like night or dusk is approaching.
According to the Weather Channel, people could experience changes in the weather. During the 2017 total eclipse, many locations reported a 5 to 15 degrees drop in temperature, and that the winds changed direction.
The weather can make a difference in the appearance of a total eclipse. If the skies are cloudy or rainy, it can obscure the view. NASA recommends checking the weather before choosing a spot to watch the eclipse.
However, if the weather is clear, the moon’s shadow will begin to become visible one to three minutes before the total eclipse. On clear, light-colored surfaces one might also notice “shadow bands” from the sun. NASA describes this phenomenon as light from the thin, crescent sun that “produces faint, rippling waves of light and dark.”
Just before totality, the moon and sun will create a diamond ring effect called “Baily’s Beads” where slivers of sunlight will shine through the valleys and craters of the moon.
Once the eclipse reaches totality, the sun’s outer layer, known as the corona, will be visible from behind the moon. This is the only stage of the eclipse where it is considered safe to remove eye protection.
One might also notice bright pink spots at the sun’s edges. According to the San Francisco Exploratorium, these spots are large loops of plasma that rise from the sun’s surface called “prominences.”
Along with the covered sun, viewers might also notice bright stars, planets, and a glow known as a 360-degree sunset during totality.
While the length of total solar eclipses varies, the one on April 8 will last 4 minutes and 28 seconds max in places near the centerline of totality. The 2024 Great American Eclipse website says that the total eclipse first enters Texas near the Mexico border at 1:27 p.m. and leaves the Oklahoma and Arkansas border at 1:49 p.m.
For more information, visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses
