Today is 13 months to the day before the next great USA solar eclipse — the annular eclipse of Oct. 14, 2023. It is also (not coincidentally) the publication day of my new book, Totality! An Eclipse Guide in Rhyme and Science. It therefore seems a good time for a quick Q&A (below) about the upcoming eclipses, so that you can start planning now for the 2023 and 2024 eclipses. First, however, a few other quick notes:
The big astronomy news since my last email was the start of operations by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). To see the latest images at any time, visit webbtelescope.org.
Mark your calendar for Sept. 26, to watch the asteroid impact of NASA’s DART mission, designed is to (safely) test ideas that might help us if we ever find a real asteroid threat coming our way (as in the movie “Don’t Look Up”).
The Artemis 1 mission to start our return to the Moon has been delayed, but should still be launching soon. You can get the latest Artemis news and learn more here.
Tens of millions of people came out to view the 2017 total solar eclipse, the first in the US in nearly four decades. Now we are approaching an even more exciting, back-to-back pair of US eclipses:
Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023: An annular solar eclipse.
Monday, April 8, 2024: A total solar eclipse.
The following Q&A will help you start your preparations.
Q: What’s the difference between the 2023 and 2024 eclipses?
A: The big event is the total solar eclipse of 2024, when the Moon will completely block out the Sun along the path of totality. During totality, it will become dark enough to see planets and bright stars, and you’ll be able to remove your eclipse glasses to see the eclipsed Sun surrounded by its spectacular corona (atmosphere). The 2023 eclipse will be annular, which means it occurs at a time when the Moon is farther from Earth in its orbit, so that it won’t completely block the Sun. Instead, it will appear in front of the Sun but surrounded by a ring (or “annulus”) of sunlight. This means it won’t get completely dark during the 2023 eclipse, and also means that you will need eye protection at all times to look toward the eclipsed Sun.
Photos by Rick Fienberg, TravelQuest International and Wilderness Travel
Q: Where do I have to be to see them?
A: The entire contiguous United States will see at least a partial solar eclipse in both cases, but if you want to see annularity in 2023 and/or totality in 2024, you must be on the narrow paths shown on the map below, and the closer to the centerlines of the paths, the better.
Q: How do I know exactly what I’ll see at a particular location?
A: Use the free app, Totality by Big Kid Science. Tap any location to get details like those shown below.
Q: Is it really worth traveling to the main paths?
A: Yes in both cases, but especially for the 2024 eclipse. Imagine the day suddenly turning into night, even while the Sun is still high in the sky. For most of human history, such an event — a total solar eclipse — would have surely been frightening. Today, however, we can predict the exact times and locations of total solar eclipses centuries in advance, which means there’s no more fear, just an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature. Ask anyone who witnessed totality in 2017 (or any other total solar eclipse), and I guarantee they’ll tell you to make sure you get to experience totality this next time.
Q: But I may be busy that day; can’t I just wait for the next one?
A: The next total solar eclipse to cross a large portion of the United States won’t occur until 2045! (A 2033 eclipse will touch northern Alaska, and one in 2044 will touch Montana and North Dakota.) So plan ahead, and make sure you’re not busy with something else on April 8, 2024. And start planning now to decide where you want to be along the path of totality when eclipse day comes.
Q: Is there a “best” place to go?
A: The keys to a great total eclipse experience are clear skies (since clouds can block your view of the eclipsed Sun) and as much totality as possible. The clear skies requires a bit of luck, while maximizing totality means being closer to the centerline of the path of totality. For 2024, there will be more than 4 minutes of totality along much of the centerline.
If you don’t live too far from the path, I’d recommend planning to drive and waiting until a few days before to decide on your exact destination based on the weather forecast. If you’ll be traveling farther, you’ll want to go by historical data on the probability of clouds. Generally speaking the best prospects for clear skies during the 2024 eclipse will be on the more southern parts of the path (e.g., the path through Texas).
Also note: While you can easily watch the eclipse on your own, it’s often more fun to watch with a group, especially if there are amateur or professional astronomers who can explain what’s going on and bring telescopes with special solar filters. So look for eclipse events (or volunteer to help set one up) in the area where you are planning to go.
Q: OK, I’m getting really excited now. But what if I have kids who need to be in school?
A: The 2023 annular eclipse is on a Saturday, so no worries there. The 2024 total eclipse is a Monday, so start working with your school district now. Make sure that: (1) your school will allow all kids to be outside watching the eclipse (e.g., no tests that day!), no matter whether your school is on the path of totality or will have only a partial eclipse; and (2) that the school will excuse absences for kids who have an opportunity to travel to the path of totality.
Q: What will need to I view the eclipse safely?
A: An inexpensive pair of eclipse glasses makes it possible to look up at the Sun throughout the eclipse. (In fact, you can use eclipse glasses to look safely at the Sun at any time.) Just remember two key points: (1) Be sure that you get your eclipse glasses from a reputable source, such as those vetted by the American Astronomical Society or the glasses that are included with the book Totality! An Eclipse Guide in Rhyme and Science; (2) you should never look up at the Sun without your eclipse glasses except during totality, when you can and should remove them.
Photo courtesy of Chuck and Susan Rheule
Q: How can I learn more?
A: There’s lots of eclipse information out there on the web, but I suggest starting with the information available on the “Learn” screen of the free app Totality by Big Kid Science or by reading my new book, Totality! An Eclipse Guide in Rhyme and Science. Be sure to note that both of these include activities that parents or teachers can do with children.
Q: Are you available to come talk to our community to help us prepare?
A: Yes. I offer a “free visit program” (often including paying my own travel) to a limited number of communities in which I can visit a few schools and talk to the public about the eclipses and how to prepare for them. See details at www.jeffreybennett.com/visit/.
Q: Regarding your book: any chance you could get an astronaut to read it to us from the International Space Station?
A: So glad you asked! The amazing Story Time From Space program has selected my book for an upcoming launch (exact date TBD) and will post a video of an astronaut reading the book from space.
