On April 8, 2024, the Sun and the Moon are lining up to give us an opportunity to see a partial solar eclipse.
WHAT IS IT?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up, and the Moon (which is between the Sun and Earth) temporarily blocks the Sun’s light. The kind of eclipse you see from your location depends on the Moon’s orbital path across Earth’s surface and how far away the Moon is from Earth and from the Sun.
There are three different types of solar eclipses: partial, total, and annular. A partial solar eclipse is when the Moon partly covers the Sun—it usually looks like a bite has been taken out of it! A total solar eclipse is when the Moon totally covers the Sun. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon appears a little smaller in the sky than the Sun, so it cannot fully block the Sun’s rays. During an annular eclipse, you’ll see a bright ring around the edges of the Moon with the Sun peeking out from behind it.
Mercer County, Illinois will see a partial eclipse. Southern Illinois will see a total eclipse.
HOW DO WE SEE IT?
You must always use proper solar viewing equipment when looking up at any type of solar eclipse. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing an eclipse, and irreversible eye damage can occur in seconds. At no time is the Sun safe to view with just your eyes. You won’t feel eye damage until it has happened. You do not have nerve endings inside your eyes that will register pain as the damage is occurring.
Certified solar viewing glasses or viewers are the best way to protect your eyes so you can look up during an eclipse!
WHERE CAN I GET SOLAR VIEWERS?
The library has free solar viewers to allow for safe viewing of the eclipse. There is a limited supply, so get yours today! Limited to one solar viewer per household.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
The length of the eclipse will depend on your viewing location. The partial phases will last 1 to 2 hours both before and after. For most locations, the maximum eclipse will last between 2 and 5 minutes, but it will be longer or shorter in some places.
For April 8, 2024, our best viewing time in the Mercer County area is approximately from 12:46 pm-3:17 pm, with maximum viewing around 2:02 pm. This is the deepest point of the eclipse, with the Sun at its most hidden.
For more information, visit these websites:
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/
https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/
https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/explore/solar-eclipses-across-illinois/
All images provided by Adler Planetarium, https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/
