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
Texas and Oklahoma Severe Chances Friday

Texas and Oklahoma Severe Chances Friday

Another round of severe storms will be possib

22 May 2026 12:15 PM
NOAA Predicts Below Normal 2026 Hurricane Season

NOAA Predicts Below Normal 2026 Hurricane Season

NOAA has released their predictions for the 2

22 May 2026 12:00 PM
NOAA Releases Summer Outlook, Above Average Temperatures Expected

NOAA Releases Summer Outlook, Above Average Temperatures Expected

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administ

22 May 2026 9:05 AM
Repeated Rain Raises the Flood Threat Down South

Repeated Rain Raises the Flood Threat Down South

A slow-moving frontal boundary that brought n

22 May 2026 2:25 AM
CALIFORNIA: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations

CALIFORNIA: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations

SIMI VALLEY, CA - On Monday, May 18th in Vent

22 May 2026 2:00 AM
Rockies Brace for Snow, Severe Storms as Cold Front Moves In

Rockies Brace for Snow, Severe Storms as Cold Front Moves In

ROCKIES - Through the rest of the week, an up

21 May 2026 5:30 PM
One More Day of Blistering Temperatures

One More Day of Blistering Temperatures

A big warmup is taking hold across the easter

20 May 2026 4:10 PM