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
Heavy Snow and Ice For the Midwest & Northeast This Weekend

Heavy Snow and Ice For the Midwest & Northeast This Weekend

A winter storm is moving across the Great Lak

8 Feb 2025 1:00 PM
Record Warmth Continues Into the Weekend

Record Warmth Continues Into the Weekend

The Southern portion of the U.S. will continu

8 Feb 2025 11:30 AM
Tornadoes Kill 2 In Tennessee, Damage Homes in Kentucky Thursday

Tornadoes Kill 2 In Tennessee, Damage Homes in Kentucky Thursday

Two rounds of severe weather, including torna

8 Feb 2025 11:00 AM
We Heard There Was a Big Game in the Big Easy

We Heard There Was a Big Game in the Big Easy

I can already hear you yelling "THE GAME'S IN

8 Feb 2025 10:20 AM
Snow Returns to Utah and Colorado Through Early Tomorrow Morning

Snow Returns to Utah and Colorado Through Early Tomorrow Morning

It's been a warm and dry few days in the moun

7 Feb 2025 8:40 PM
Rain and Snow Taper Off in California

Rain and Snow Taper Off in California

Over the past week a strong Atmospheric River

7 Feb 2025 11:30 AM
Severe Storms Threaten the Mid-South

Severe Storms Threaten the Mid-South

A messy storm system will continue to push th

7 Feb 2025 3:45 AM