March 21, 2024 |
Photo – Solar Eclipse – Courtesy science.nasa.gov
Eclipse hunters are gearing up for Monday, April 8, when portions of North America will experience the last total solar eclipse for two decades.
Last October, we in Carbon County, experienced a partial solar eclipse. The University of Wyoming’s Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium Coordinator Max Gilbraith explained how last year’s annular solar eclipse was different than the one we’ll witness in three weeks.
Gilbraith said solar eclipses occur all over the world in roughly 18-month cycles. The next total solar eclipse to cross over North America won’t happen until August of 2044. However, the path of totality, or the arc across the globe where the eclipse is most visible, will traverse the northeastern United States. Gilbraith said next month’s astronomical event will be the last one our area will experience for a long time.
Gilbraith said the moon will cover roughly half of the sun visible here in Carbon County. Any place with clear skies between San Antonio, Texas and Rochester, New York, will be the best place to witness the eclipse, said the planetarium coordinator.
Gilbraith said the University of Wyoming Planetarium is hosting a series of events leading up to the April 8th eclipse. The planetarium coordinator said he has provided special eclipse viewing glasses across our area.
Gilbraith said he has distributed roughly 8,000 eclipse viewing glasses to school students across the southeastern portion of Wyoming. The planetarium coordinator said you don’t need special glasses to view the celestial event. Gilbraith explained some other ways to safely view next month’s eclipse.
The next total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. You can secure eclipse glasses to protect your eyes at Carbon County schools and libraries. Gilbraith said the next total solar eclipse to cross directly over Carbon County isn’t likely to occur for 400 years.
