In case you haven’t already been inundated with the “Great American Eclipse” information, it seemed appropriate to address the heavenly event from the viewpoint of a veteran eclipse chaser.
In 2017, my husband and I loaded up a rented Sprinter van with the family and supplies galore to drive nearly 1,000 miles from Southern California to Wyoming for the sole purpose of viewing the eclipse in the “path of totality” – a term you may have heard a lot lately.
The width of this path varies, depending on the orbit of the moon around the earth, and the earth’s own orbit around the sun. This fact indicates why total solar eclipses themselves are so rare, particularly over land, which only accounts for about one-third of the Earth’s surface. This time around, the path will cut an approximately 115 mile-wide swath through the heart of the country, starting in the far southern reaches of Texas and exiting the states via Maine into Canada.
The event coming up on April 8th is even more momentous when considering the next time a total solar eclipse will traverse the contiguous United States is in 2044. One of the more spectacular views of this celestial event will be in Niagara Falls, which already boasts its own amazing view. The Niagara Falls region will not witness another such event until the year 2144.
There will be many easily observable effects on our planet for the brief period of time the moon obscures our sun, and doing research ahead of time to know what to look for is strongly advised.
One of these stunning effects is the ability to see the sun’s corona (atmosphere) for the length of the eclipse, which is typically outshone by the brightness on the surface of the sun. Binoculars or a monocular is advisable for the best viewing, but only with the proper lens protection.
Another effect is the 360° sunrise/sunset, only visible during the few minutes of totality. So, while everyone is looking skyward, take a moment to look toward the horizon to view another aspect of the heavenly spectacle, which will be much more easily observed in flat terrain.
If you are traveling to the path of totality, keep in mind that millions have the same plan and give yourself plenty of time to get set up in your viewing spot.
More importantly for families with children or the elderly, plan on bringing a makeshift bathroom, utilizing camping paraphernalia specifically made for a lack of access to facilities. Having a small first aid kit, water, wipes, sunscreen, and bug spray on hand is advisable as well for what will most likely be a very long, yet memorably gorgeous day. Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to use the correct protection for your eyes when viewing the eclipse, and if you’re taking direct video or photos of the eclipse itself, make sure your devices are protected with the correct lens covers.
The main thing is, regardless of how close you are to the path of totality, take a moment on Monday to behold the majesty of God’s creation, as the celestial bodies provide a show unmatched by any human design.
As the majesty unfolds before our eyes, I know what will be on my mind, and that is the poetic words in Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
