Registration is required for this event so we can get enough eclipse glasses and concessions for everyone! To sign up, please contact the admin office at Reach. The number will be listed under the Location heading.
Today, a total solar eclipse will be visible across North America, from Mexico all the way up to Canada! Join us today for this once-in-a-lifetime event, where we’ll be celebrating the occasion with food and festivities. From 12:00 pm noon to 3:00 pm, we invite everyone to come craft, eat, and watch one of the rarest astronomical phenomenons with us! Special eclipse-viewing glasses will be provided for those who sign up!
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun and casts its shadow onto Earth’s surface. The center point where it is darkest is called the umbra. Places in the path of the umbra will see a total solar eclipse, which is when the entire disk of the sun is blocked by the moon. Many of us will not be able to see the total eclipse; the shadow of the moon is very narrow after all! However, we will still be treated to what happens in the lighter shadows called the penumbra.
Places in the path of the penumbra, which spans from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, will see a partial solar eclipse. During a partial solar eclipse, the sun’s light dims anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours as the moon passes over the sun. If you use special glasses, you’ll see that part of the sun has gone dark!
Fun fact: A solar eclipse can only happen on the day of the new moon!
Image from https://santiagofultan.blogspot.com/2022/04/how-long-does-total-phase-of-total.html
When will we see the eclipse?
The entire eclipse experience happens quite slowly: it takes around 3 hours to come and go! The first shadow on the sun becomes visible at around 1:55 pm here in Fletcher. The ambient light begins to dim at around 2:05 pm. It reaches it’s peak at around 3:10, which is when we will encourage everyone to turn their gaze skyward. We will be able to see between 85% and 90% of the moon at this time. If you miss it, no problem! You’ll still be able to see the eclipse until around 4:24 pm. Pictured below is the path of the moon’s shadow.
The next partial eclipse visible from North Carolina won’t be until June 11th, 2048, and the next total eclipse visible from North Carolina won’t be until May 11th, 2078.
Image from https://s.w-x.co/primary_april_8_2024_eclipse.jpg
Take caution!
To view a solar eclipse, you must look directly at the sun. However, direct exposure of sunlight to your eyes can cause major damage to your eyes and the filtering power needed for this far surpasses the filtering ability of a standard set of sunglasses. In fact, the only home-brought piece of usable equipment would be a welding mask! We encourage everyone who plans to attend to use the pair of special glasses we provide, which possess the required level of filtering for sun viewing.
In addition to correct filtering, please note that even with the most powerful filters, prolonged sun exposure can lead to retinal sunburns which can cause blindness. We suggest you limit your direct sun viewing to no more than a few minutes at a time with adequate breaks in between.
