On April 8, the first total solar eclipse since 2017 will be visible from most of the continental United States, and it will be quite a sight – as long as the weather cooperates – right here in Lancaster County.
Much of Pennsylvania, and all of Lancaster County, are out of the zone where the total eclipse will take place, but even here viewers will be very close to experiencing a total eclipse. And it will be a historic moment – another eclipse of this kind won’t be seen again until 2044.
For all the non-astrologers out there, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, temporarily creating a darker environment akin to dusk or dawn. With the help of special solar eclipse glasses, onlookers will be able to see not only the sun’s outer atmosphere, but also nearby stars and planets.
The path of totality is the specific area where a total eclipse will occur – people outside of that path will encounter a partial solar eclipse, which will still darken the sky, just not as severely as for those in the path of totality. The path is roughly 115 miles wide and stretches diagonally from Mexico and Maine. For Pennsylvanians, the closest area in-state to the path of totality is in the Lake Erie region, in the northwest corner of the state.
READ: Countdown begins for April’s total solar eclipse. What to know about watch parties and safe viewing
In Lancaster County the partial eclipse will last about three to four minutes, but the entire eclipse process will go from roughly 2:06 p.m. to 4:34 p.m., with coverage of the sun reaching its height at 3:22 p.m. At that time, the sun will be 91% covered by the moon. The best-case scenario would be for clear or nearly clear skies and, according to Kyle Elliott, the director of the Millersville University Weather Information Center, potential sky gazers can start seeing reliable weather forecasting for April 8 beginning near the end of March.
As part of preparations for the big day, Astronomy Enthusiasts of Lancaster County will hold a free informational meeting on all things solar eclipse on March 6 at the Lititz Public Library at 6 p.m., which is open to the public. According to AELC vice president Ed Roldan, the meeting will provide a complete rundown of what to expect on April 8, whether you are in the path of totality or not. Roldan has been an astronomy buff since his childhood in Brooklyn, when his father would take him up to the roof of their apartment building to look at the sky through a telescope.
For those who might doubt the importance of a cosmic event such as this, or perhaps don’t understand the hubbub around it, Roldan has a simple response.
“Just look at it!” Roldan said. “Once they look through the telescope and see the flames of the sun, they get it.”
Pequea Valley Intermediate School physics teacher Rob Webb says that he has slowly but surely been preparing his students for the coming eclipse, making use of the school’s planetarium towards that end. In 2017, Webb and the school won $100,000 from a Farmers Insurance Thank America’s Teachers grant, and with the help of additional funds from the school, Webb has made use of the planetarium to get students excited about the world around them.
Additionally, Webb recently started the “Last Minute Astronomer” YouTube channel, and posted an 18-minute video, “All you need to know to prep for the 2024 eclipse (in Lancaster County)” to help people prepare. Webb’s advice for potential Lancastrian skygazers is simple, though.
“Have some fun with it, get some food and get some people together to watch the eclipse, there’s fun things you can do with your kids (related to the eclipse) as well” Webb said.
When asked for the proper snack food to accompany eclipse watching, Webb had his answer quickly.
Check it out
Although most locations throughout Lancaster County will provide a good space to see the partial solar eclipse, the Ryan Observatory at Muddy Run in Holtwood Township is making a party out of it. On April 8, the Ryan Observatory will hold a free open house complete with science activities and food trucks on site. Astronomy enthusiasts are encouraged to gather and observe together.
Additionally, the North Museum has chartered a bus that will take potential onlookers from Lancaster County to the campus of SUNY Brockport in Brockport, New York on April 8. Tickets are $150, and include a seat on the bus, eclipse glasses and a box lunch. Richard D. Clark, professor emeritus of Meteorology at Millersville University, will be on hand to give short lectures regarding past eclipses. Contact the North Museum at 717-358-3941 for more information.
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Safety glasses
It is not safe to look at an eclipse without risk of permanent eyesight damage. Special glasses are needed to stay safe.
These glasses tend to be between $5 and $10, and most crucially, will be ISO 12312-2 approved and will say so somewhere on the glasses themselves. The designation comes from the International Organization for Standardization and meets the worldwide standard for looking at the sun from an unmagnified perspective.
Without the glasses or some alternative, eye damage can be swift, according to Dr. Phil Schwartz of the Eye Center of Lancaster County.
“The damage occurs in the cells of the retina,” Schwartz described via email. “Solar retinopathy is the term which describes the retina damage. This damage can be temporary or permanent, without associated pain. Staring directly into the sun or watching a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can lead to permanent vision loss. Keep in mind that ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, or homemade filters are not safe for viewing a solar eclipse.”
Solar eclipse glasses can be found at large retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot. Additionally, Pequea Valley Intermediate School teacher Rob Webb will be hosting a “Star Party” at the school planetarium on Monday, March 4, and will have solar glasses for sale as well. It is advised not to purchase solar glasses through online retailers such as Amazon, as some have reported receiving counterfeit glasses that do not provide adequate protection from the sun.
Pinhole projection
In lieu of eclipse glasses, there are several craft-worthy alternatives, and none better than a pinhole projector. Simply take a manilla folder and cut it in half, poke a hole in one half and set the other half down on the ground diagonally against something, so that it is facing towards the sun. Then, with your back towards the sun, hold the folder up so that the small light passing through the hole you punctured is now reflecting on the second piece of folder. Watch then as the small light reflecting through the hole in the folder changes as the eclipse occurs. Note: Do not look directly at the sun through the hole in the folder.
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