Total Solar Eclipse - 5 Unique Things You'll See

news image
Special Stories
8 Apr 2024 5:55 PM

Here is a way to TRACK your time in the eclipse thanks to NASA

A total eclipse is coming to North America on April 8th, cutting a path of totality from central Texas to the Northeast over an hour.  A SOLAR eclipse happens when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and Earth blocking out the sun’s light. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk, and animals might mistake it for nighttime.  

A couple of cool events happen during a total eclipse:

  1. About 2 minutes before totality, shadow bands form on white or light-colored surfaces. They are rippling waves of light and darkness that give a “movie-esq” effect.

  2. No matter where you're watching from in the U.S., all of us will see some level of eclipse coverage. Instead of looking, up, turn your gaze down, and you’ll see tiny crescent shadows on the ground! That is the shadow of the moon in front of the sun.  

  3. About a minute before totality, you can see Baily’s Beads, a bright gleam of light on one side of the moon. 

  4. During a total solar eclipse, people in the path of totality can use eclipse glasses to see the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere which is usually not visible due to the sun’s brightness. 

  5. You may also see pink around the edges of the moon, known as prominences. This is part of the Sun’s atmosphere!

     

During this solar eclipse, those in the path of totality will be in darkness for an average of 3 ½ to 4 minutes, which is close to double the time of darkness during the solar eclipse in 2017. For the latest on the solar eclipse and potential weather impacts, join WeatherNation in the days leading up to April 8th! More Articles:

How Rare are Total Solar Eclipses

5 Things You Need to Know About the Eclipse

How to Contribute to Science During the Eclipse

Eclipse Safety

Hearing the Eclipse

All Weather News
More
Winds Slam Chicago Wednesday, Severe Storms Return Thursday

Winds Slam Chicago Wednesday, Severe Storms Return Thursday

CHICAGO, IL - Damaging storms moved through t

11 Jun 2026 4:33 PM
First Atlantic Disturbance of the Season

First Atlantic Disturbance of the Season

WATCHING THE TROPICSAtlanticThe first disturb

11 Jun 2026 4:32 PM
Tropical Moisture to Raise Flooding and Severe Concerns Across Central and Southern U.S.

Tropical Moisture to Raise Flooding and Severe Concerns Across Central and Southern U.S.

A surge of tropical moisture streaming north

11 Jun 2026 4:31 PM
Hot and Stormy in the Northeast

Hot and Stormy in the Northeast

While the heat builds into the Northeast, rou

11 Jun 2026 8:05 AM
East and West Coast Record Summer Heat

East and West Coast Record Summer Heat

Heat advisories have been expanding across th

11 Jun 2026 12:30 AM
Tropical Moisture Brings Increased Flood Risk

Tropical Moisture Brings Increased Flood Risk

With multiple rounds of heavy downpours acros

9 Jun 2026 10:40 AM
Severe Storms Repeat Daily Across the Plains

Severe Storms Repeat Daily Across the Plains

Severe storms developed today, as a particula

8 Jun 2026 1:25 AM