A total solar eclipse is coming. Two CT experts share what to know for ‘breathtaking experiences.’
The date has been circled on the calendar for months for astronomy lovers as the total solar eclipse will appear in the afternoon on April 8.
It’s a rare cosmic event. so even the more occasional sky watchers among us are intrigued. The next major eclipse for the U.S won’t be for 20 years.
Kristine Larsen, a Central Connecticut State University geological sciences professor, and Yale faculty director for the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium Dr. Michael Faison both say that Connecticut is not on the path of totality, but that path — where the sun will be completely blocked — is not too far away. A few hours drive away to New Hampshire, Vermont and north and western New York would do the trick for the total experience.
But for those of sticking to the Nutmeg State for this occasion, Larsen said New Britain will have 93% coverage in the rare cosmic event and Faison said New Haven will have 91% coverage.
For those who have not heard it’s coming, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun from view and casting a shadow onto Earth. For those viewing the eclipse from locations where the moon’s shadow completely blocks the sun, known as the path of totality, the sky will become dark.
According to NASA, the eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The peak of the eclipse will last a maximum of four minutes and 28 seconds, but it will be shorter in most spots.
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The path of the eclipse from Mexico enters the United States in Texas, and travels through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse. About 32 million people will be in the path of totality.
Safety and science
Three New England cities are in the direct path of the eclipse: Burlington, Vermont, Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Caribou, Maine. Those areas will see it from 2:14 p.m. until the full eclipse at 4:40 p.m. The peak is around 3:30 p.m. Those times are similar to what will be seen in Connecticut.
“I’ve been telling everyone I know to get yourself to the path of totality. It’s so close,” Larsen said. “Ninety-three percent sounds like a lot but there is a huge difference between 93 and 100. With 100 percent you get to see the outer atmosphere of the sun (called the corona) and see the glory of the sun. I don’t care if its 99 percent — you aren’t going to get the same experience as the path of totality.”
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According to The National Solar Observatory, the corona is the area of plasma, or highly ionized gas, that extends thousands of miles above the sun’s visible surface, called the photosphere. Because the sun’s light is so powerful, the corona is extremely hard to see from Earth except with special equipment or during a total solar eclipse, according to the observatory.
During totality, when the moon blocks all of the sun’s light, the corona “appears as a white gossamer curtain emanating from the sun,” according to the observatory.
Larsen said to fight the urge and not look directly at the eclipse. Viewing glasses are always necessary.
“Use eye protection and you can order eclipse viewing glasses and follow safety directions,” Larsen said. “When the sun is so deeply eclipsed it doesn’t seem as dangerous, but it is. Don’t be tempted.”
“It’s important to use ISO rated glasses,” Faison said. “You can’t look at it for more than a fraction of a second without damaging your eyes. A partial eclipse can look less bright, but it can burn a pattern of a little crescent in your retina. Don’t do that. Do what your mom and teachers told you to never look at the sun.”
A long wait for the next one
The last total solar eclipse in the U.S. was in August 2017. That was the first total solar eclipse visible in the lower 48 states in 38 years. According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.
US President Donald Trump looks up at the partial solar eclipse from the balcony of the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 21, 2017. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
“Get to the path of totality,” Larsen said. “It’s the best way to see it. It’s only a quick road trip. At this point a lot of hotels are sold out and the ones that aren’t are charging a pretty penny at this point. Traffic is going to be hideous but try to take the drive where the totality is. There’s nothing like it. If you have a friend or family member that lives in one of those areas it might be a good idea to stop for a visit.”
Larsen is flying with a group of 30 astronomy enthusiasts, both professional and amateur, to Austin, Texas.
“It will be visible for about a minute longer in Texas than many other places. We are going to stay in the middle of nowhere,” Larsen said. “In case, we have a cloudy day we have vans to drive as far as we need to go to see it.”
This is Larsen’s sixth total solar eclipse.
“The other five were amazing, breathtaking experiences and I can’t wait to have another one,” Larsen said.
The moon transits the sun during the 2017 total solar eclipse as seen from Weiser, Idaho. (Kyle Green/Idaho Statesman/TNS)
Clouds would block the view of the eclipse.
Larsen said her plan was to watch the 2017 eclipse at a Missouri winery. Because of a bad forecast, the group she was with was bused east to Marion, Illinois.
“We got up at 4 a.m. and bused east,” she said. “The key is being mobile and watch the weather and make a decision and drive if you can.”
Larsen has also seen total solar eclipses in Australia, Egypt, China and the Faroe Islands.
The Australian eclipse was on a cloudy day and was only seen for a few seconds in between clouds, she said. The longest eclipse Larsen has experienced was in China; it lasted for for six and a half minutes. The totality is fleeting but it “is really amazing to experience,” Larsen said.
The deep partial eclipse like the one that will be seen in Connecticut will have an artificial hue.
“It’s almost like when you watch a movie and a director uses a weird blue color,” Larsen said. “People will notice a change in lighting. It’s not going to get dark in Connecticut. In the path of totality, it gets dark, and the animals and birds think it’s time to go to bed. The wind changes. It’s unlike any other experience you can have.”
This is Faison fourth’s total solar eclipse. He watched one in Africa in 2001, China in 2009 and Idaho in 2017.
He’s heading to Ohio for next month’s event.
“Everyone should get to totality,” Faison said. “Seeing a total eclipse is a much different experience than a partial and it’s an eerie feeling. The stars come out and it gets cooler, and you can see the corona of the sun. Everyone is going to be heading to totality areas and the roads are going to be jammed.”
“Everyone should try to see a total solar eclipse in their lifetime,” he added. “If you can get to New York or Vermont to see the totality I recommend it.”
Connecticut will not a have a total solar eclipse until Sept. 14, 2099.
Larsen suggested visiting https://eclipse.aas.org/ for more information on how to view the eclipse and where to get viewing glasses.
