What You Need to Know
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in central Ohio as the sun, moon, and earth all align on April 8 to create the 2024 total solar eclipse.
For the first time since 1806, Ohio will be in the direct path of a total solar eclipse. The eclipse's path, spanning 300 miles, promises an amazing display that will captivate onlookers for approximately two and a half hours! However, in this area, viewers can experience near totality (99.6%) starting around 3:07 p.m. with peak viewing occurring around 3:12 p.m.
Not only is this phenomenon rare, with the next eclipse occurring in 2099, but it also will involve more than just a period of darkness. Aside from the spectacle in the sky, other things will begin to change all around us. At 2:25 p.m., a noticeable temperature change will take place due to decreased solar energy. At 2:55 p.m., colors will start to turn grayish and the behavior of animals and plants may be affected by low light levels. Then, just minutes before totality, a dark shadow will appear on the horizon, and seconds before totality, the solar corona appears.
What You Need to Watch
If you want to view the sun during the eclipse you must wear special glasses to avoid causing permanent and irreparable damage to your retinas. Some local grocery stores and libraries have glasses available, or, you can order them through Amazon or an online store.
Where You Can Go for Greater Totality
For the best viewing, you may want to consider heading just a bit north of Lancaster. In Columbus, a partial solar eclipse will begin at approximately 1:55 p.m., as the edge of the moon touches the edge of the sun. The total solar eclipse will reach peak totality at approximately 3:12 p.m. with the sun at its most hidden. Finally, the waning partial solar eclipse will end at approximately 4:27 p.m., as the edge of the moon leaves the edge of the sun. The total duration of the eclipse event will last 2 hours and 31 minutes. If you plan to stay in Lancaster, you can discover the exact viewing times for our community HERE.
Where You Can Go for Viewing Activities
Some destinations, such as COSI, the Columbus Zoo, and Olde Worthington Library, are hosting FREE viewing events. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a complete listing of state parks where viewing also is FREE and may be accompanied by educational activities. Nearly a dozen state parks are directly in the path of the eclipse. Information for the state parks can be found HERE.
If you prefer to stay close to home, Fairfield County Historical Parks will host a gathering at Smeck Park in Baltimore from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and River Valley Mall will host an educational viewing complete with activities and $1 glasses from 2 to 4 p.m. Locally, the Fairfield Country District Library will be hosting an eclipse education event with NASA Solar System Ambassador Carol Abbott this Saturday, March 23. They also are hosting several events for students and families. Information and registration can be found
HERE.
While you are awaiting the total eclipse, you can begin conducting some activities and discussing the event at home. Some free and easy ideas can be found HERE.
Eclipse History
The history of the total eclipse is fascinating! (Below is a petroglyph representing the total solar eclipse of July 11, 1097, in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, while at right is a photograph of the eclipse of August 21, 2017, taken from Madras, Oregon.) Solar eclipses have historically been feared as bad omens that bring about death and destruction. But in reality, they are harmless—and they even helped prove Einstein's theory of relativity. The British astronomer and mathematician Sir Arthur Eddington used the total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, to test Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. By taking pictures of stars near the sun during totality, Eddington was able to show that gravity can bend light. This phenomenon is called gravitational deflection. Surviving records have shown that the Babylonians and the ancient Chinese were able to predict solar eclipses as early as 2500 BCE.
|