On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America and all of Michigan will at least get to see a partial eclipse.
This is the last solar eclipse visible in the Contiguous United States until 2044. The path of totality is the literal path where people will be able to see the Moon completely cover the Sun. It’s about 100 miles wide.
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The only place in Michigan located within the path of totality is Luna Pier in Monroe County. It’s right on the edge of the path of totality, so the total solar eclipse will only last 19 seconds there.
Places in the path of totality will see the sky become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk. People who only experience a partial solar eclipse will see the sky appear slightly darker than it was before, depending on their location.
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Is 99% totality enough?
What if you’re somewhere, like Monroe, Michigan, where there will be 99.9% totality? Isn’t that good enough? Scientists say no, it’s not good enough and that the difference between 99.9% and 100% is basically day and night.
Places in the path of totality will see the sky become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk. People who only experience a partial solar eclipse will see the sky appear slightly darker than it was before, depending on their location.
Dr. Angela Speck with UTSA & AAS said that even seeing a solar eclipse at 99.9% totality is just not enough.
The Sun has an atmosphere known as the corona. It is always there, but because the Sun is so bright we can’t see it. On its own, the corona is about as bright as the full Moon. Even at 99.9% totality during a solar eclipse, the Sun gives off too much light for viewers to be able to really experience the corona.
Speck said that at 99.9%, there will be little to no temperature and wind changes, little to no behavior changes, little to no shadow bands. Speck said that you need to be within the path of totality at 100% to experience any dramatic brightness changes, Baily’s beads, diamond ring effects, chromosphere and prominences, corona, sunset colors around the horizon, and bright stars and planets.
To get the full experience, scientist encourage people to travel somewhere within the path of totality.
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When will the solar eclipse start in your neighborhood?
An interactive map put out by NASA lets people put in their zip code to see how much eclipse coverage they can expect there, and what time the eclipse will be at its peak.
---> View: NASA’S Eclipse Explorer interactive map
Where to buy safe solar eclipse glasses in Michigan
Cassidy Johncox reports: Regular sunglasses aren’t strong enough to protect your eyes while watching a solar eclipse in all its glory.
There are special glasses made for eclipse-viewing, sun-staring enthusiasts that have dark filters meant to protect the eyes from brilliant light and harmful rays. These glasses adhere to a safety standard known as ISO 12312-2, which should be printed somewhere on a certified product.
The American Astronomical Society makes a significant effort each year to find and list reliable manufacturers and sellers who have products that meet the specific ISO standard. These products can be actual glasses (often of the paper variety), or other viewing objects referred to as “solar viewers.”
Whatever the product, it’s important to buy one that meets the ISO standard -- which is why the AAS urges people not to buy cheap products from e-commerce sites.
“We do not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu, or any other online marketplace and buying from whichever vendor offers the lowest price,” the AAS writes on its website. The AAS also warns of fake and counterfeit products sold on these sites that may not offer you any protection from the sun.
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How to protect your cameras
Cassidy Johncox reports: Just as you protect your eyes with specially-filtered glasses, camera lenses can be protected with filters, too. It’s important to buy certified filters that meet safety standards, for both your eyes and your cameras.
For a cellphone, there are filters available for purchase that you can hold directly in front of the phone, protecting the lens from the sun.
For larger cameras, a solar filter should be placed on top of your lens for protection. Experts say it’s important to use a properly designated solar filter, rather than using a neutral density filter. Solar filters reportedly protect the camera and the cameraperson’s eyes from invisible infrared and ultraviolet radiation, in addition to dimming the sunlight.
People should only buy eclipse glasses and viewers that meet a certain safety standard known as ISO 12312-2. That figure should be printed somewhere on a certified product.
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