A spectacular show: 2024 Eclipse
Katelyn Freil, Marketing Specialist
On April 8, a momentous event will grace the skies above Ohio as the sun, moon and Earth align, providing a few moments of midday darkness during a breathtaking spectacle: a total solar eclipse.
During the solar eclipse, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun from view and casting a shadow on a strip of land more than 100 miles wide from Mexico to Canada.
There are two parts to the moon’s shadow. The penumbra is the outer, lighter portion where the sun is only partially covered. The umbra, also known as the path of totality, is the central, darker part where the sun is completely blocked. Summit County will be in the path of totality and experience complete darkness for about three minutes during this event.
While total solar eclipses around the globe are not exactly rare (occurring about once every one and a half years), to be in the path of one is. The last time Ohio experienced a total solar eclipse was in 1806, and the next will not be until 2099, making this a special experience for the 7,275,000 Ohioans living in this year’s path.
In addition to residents, this total solar eclipse is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the state, bringing new visitors — and traffic — to public spaces like the Metro Parks. To avoid the crowds, consider viewing the eclipse from home or walking to a local public space. Remember: The view will be the same regardless of where you are, so long as you’re in the path of totality.
This means that planning where to view the eclipse is not nearly as important as how. Viewing the sun’s rays is never safe, even when partially obscured in the moments before and after the total solar eclipse, so special viewers are required. Look for safe solar viewing glasses (also known as eclipse glasses) and handheld viewers from reputable sellers, or try making a viewer at home by following the park district’s online activity guide. Remember that cameras, telescopes and binoculars also require solar filters to be directed at the sun. Don’t ruin your device trying to get the perfect picture and instead, enjoy the moment!
As we turn our collective gaze to the sky, let’s appreciate the opportunity to experience this celestial event as a community.
Did You Know?
- There are four types of solar eclipses: total (the sun is completely blocked from view), annular (the moon is far enough away from Earth that it does not fully block the sun), partial (the sun is partially blocked from view), hybrid (an eclipse shifts between annular and total)
- Solar eclipses have distinct cultural and spiritual significance for communities across the globe. Some cultures recognize eclipses as signs or omens, while others may see them as a moment of harmony and balance.
- During this eclipse, a NASA citizen science project called the Eclipse Soundscapes Project will revisit a study from almost 100 years ago which showed that animals and insects are affected by solar eclipses.
For more stories like this, check out Green Islands magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.
