Are You Prepared for the Upcoming Total Solar Eclipse?
IWU and the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, Marion, Indiana will fall directly in the path of totality of a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will begin in Marion at 1:52 PM and end at 4:24 PM.
Totality will last from 3:08:04 PM until 3:10:28 PM, meaning that it will last for almost two-and-a-half minutes. Solar eclipses like this one are rare enough that it provides an invaluable and unique experience for anyone in the moon's shadow when it occurs.
It is essential that people try to be as prepared as possible and take the opportunity to increase their knowledge about eclipses in general.
What causes an eclipse?
There are two types of eclipses which can occur. A lunar eclipse happens when the earth comes between the moon and the sun, while a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun.
Due to the way in which the moon and the earth orbit each other, the two rotate around each other at varying distances. A partial solar eclipse happens whenever the moon crosses between the earth and the sun, but due to how close the moon will be to the earth during this upcoming total solar eclipse, the entirety of the sun will be blocked by the moon as it moves closer in earth's orbit.
What is the path of totality?
The path of totality is simply the moon's shadow falling onto the earth's surface as it rapidly spins around, creating a long, straight line which will result in a total eclipse, in this instance.
The path of totality for this eclipse is a very narrow strip which reaches from Mexico through Marion and beyond. The longest period of totality which any place will experience during the eclipse is roughly four minutes. While it will not last that long in Marion, it will still last over two-and-a-half minutes, making it ideal viewing ground.
How common are eclipses?
While people think of total solar eclipses when they hear the word "eclipse" there are a variety of eclipses which happen with a great deal of frequency.
Lunar eclipses (while not nearly as visually striking as a total solar eclipse) happen relatively frequently, and total lunar eclipses can still look visually striking due to the way in which they often cause the moon to appear red.
Another kind of eclipse, known as an annular solar eclipse, can also happen with far more regularity than a total solar eclipse. During an annular eclipse the moon creates a partial eclipse of the sun, blocking some of it but not all.
It is also important to note that eclipses happen worldwide and are often localized to specific places, meaning that while they might not happen frequently in any specific place, they do happen with a certain degree of frequency across the globe.
How should you watch a total solar eclipse like this one?
The most important thing to know when preparing for a total solar eclipse is that you cannot look up at it, even during totality, without proper eye protection. Oftentimes people assume that because they can't see the sun, it's safe to look, but this isn't accurate.
While the sun itself might be completely blocked during totality, the sun's corona emits a variety of kinds of light - some visible to humans and others invisible - and as a result, even when the visible light is gone the invisible light is still present and highly dangerous.
During eclipses like these, people often stare up at the sun and these invisible wavelengths of light burn their retinas, causing permanent damage to their eyes which can even extend to full blindness.
Anyone intending to watch the eclipse will need to purchase eclipse glasses with the ISO 12312-2 rating on them, which certifies them as being safe for direct observation of the sun. If the glasses being used do not have this rating then they are unsafe.
Additionally, even those with this rating can be subject to damage, making it imperative that you check them for cracks or holes ahead of time. Alternatively, a pinhole box can also be used to safely view a reflection of the eclipse.
The historical significance of eclipses
Throughout history, the ways in which humanity has viewed eclipses have shifted drastically. For centuries people were afraid of them, considering them to be a sign - particularly total solar eclipses, due to their dramatic visual effects. In the wake of a solar eclipse, many people would change their lives in drastic ways.
By the dawn of the twentieth century, our understanding of eclipses had grown enough that when Einstein proposed his theory of general relativity, an eclipse was able to be studied as a support for the theory by observing the ways light bended around the sun.
Due to a combination of how regularly occurring eclipses are and our abilities to time them down to the second, it is now possible for us to determine the timing of historical events based on recorded eclipse events. By comparing historical records which mention eclipses near Christ’s birth with the data we have on eclipses, the timeframe of Christ’s birth has been narrowed considerably.
While the April 8th total solar eclipse will almost certainly not be nearly as noteworthy as these, it will still provide scientists with a fantastic opportunity to study the sun's corona - in addition to providing another opportunity to get people involved in science!
Special thanks
Special thanks to Indiana Wesleyan University's own Dr. Scott McCullough for his invaluable contributions to this article by providing the vast majority of the facts featured. Dr. McCullough works in both the Division of Natural Sciences and the Division of Math and Computer Education Sciences. On April 8 he will help lead an organized viewing of the eclipse on IWU's Goodman lawn.