The day is finally here, Houston. For months we’ve heard reports about the Great North American Solar Eclipse, its duration of up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds and vast path of totality casting half of the continent in total darkness. Now that the day is here, it seems the eclipse will be a bittersweet event in Houston with cloudy, stormy weather predicted for the time of the eclipse. That said, it’s good to be prepared with an open mind and pair of sunglasses!
When and where will the next total solar eclipse happen?
The total solar eclipse takes place today, Monday, April 8. The partial eclipse begins at 12:20 pm wherein first contact occurs between the edge of the moon and the edge of the sun.
The deepest moment of the eclipse occurs at 1:40 pm, known as maximum eclipse. And roughly 3:01 pm, partial eclipse ends in which the moon’s edge leaves the sun’s.
The path of totality for the Great North American Solar Eclipse will stretch from Mexico through the Southeast United States and extend into East Canada.
What will the weather be like for the solar eclipse in Houston?
Sad to report, Space City is not going to have the most ideal eclipse-watching experience. As of this early morning, The Weather Channel has posted a marginal risk of severe weather in Houston.
Furthermore, the weather service is predicting likely thunderstorms with a 70% chance of rain while Accuweather forecasts a cloud cover of 95%. .
Where to watch the solar eclipse in Houston
Despite a little cloudy weather, Space City is ready to put on a number of solar eclipse watching events in Houston.
Stargazers can get a glimpse of the eclipse at Space Center Houston, Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center who are hosting a day event with the Houston Astronomical Society. Complimentary glasses are provided.
Houstonians can also choose to witness the solar eclipse at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for their “Totality Over Texas” event. Located in the Burke Baker Planetarium, the event will also feature an eclipse briefing following the event which is set to start at 12:20 pm at the Sun Dial. Here, visitors will receive complimentary eclipse glasses and be able to watch via telescope as well as a broadcast of the eclipse from Bandera.
Other solar eclipse watching events in Houston include the variety of viewings at branches of the Houston Public Library. The Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library as well as the Oak Forest Neighborhood Library will both be hosting pre-solar eclipse events for the family with cosmic crafting activities from 10:30 am – 11:30 am.
For a more natural experience, Houstonians can camp out at the Kinder Land Bridge-West Lawn in Memorial Park. Here, officials will be hosting a viewing party from 1 pm – 3 pm with lectures, pinhole camera-making activities, and more.
View the eclipse with the animals at the Houston Zoo. Beginning at 11 am, visitors can collect free eclipse glasses by the Cypress Circle Cafe. $35 for entry.
In the Katy area, skygazers can enjoy pre-eclipse activities ranging from lawn games to story readings at the Katy Arboretum. Hosted from 12:30 pm – 2 pm, visitors can also attain courtesy eclipse glasses while supplies last.
What’s a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse takes place when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, with the Moon positioned between the Earth and the Sun, obstructing sunlight and creating a shadow on Earth.
In contrast, a lunar eclipse occurs when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to enter the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
Solar eclipses come in three distinct types: partial eclipses, annular eclipses, and total eclipses.
What’s a total solar eclipse?
When the moon fails to align directly with the sun and only covers a portion of it, it results in a partial solar eclipse. The misalignment produces a crescent-shaped sun, partially concealed by the moon.
On the other hand, if the moon and sun align directly but the sun is not completely hidden by the moon because of the moon being at its farthest point from Earth, and consequently smaller in appearance, an annular solar eclipse occurs. This creates a ‘ring of fire’ effect, with the sun encircling the moon.
Conversely, a total eclipse occurs when the moon completely obscures the sun, turning day into night. Total solar eclipses are infrequent and the outcome of extraordinary serendipity, as the sun is about 400 times larger than the moon and approximately 400 times more distant from Earth.
What makes the Great North American Total Eclipse special?
The April occurrence of the Great North American Total Eclipse holds distinct significance for several reasons.
Primarily, this eclipse on April 8 will reach an impressive maximum duration of 4 minutes and 28.2 seconds in certain regions. Over the past century, the maximum totality duration for 75 sampled solar eclipses averaged 3 minutes and 13 seconds. Any total solar eclipse lasting beyond 4 minutes is regarded as an exceptional celestial event.
Additionally, the extent of the eclipse’s impact is noteworthy. The previous “Great North American Eclipse” in 2017 traversed from coast to coast, captivating millions with a path of totality spanning 70 miles in width. In contrast, the eclipse on April 8th features a broader path of totality, spanning over 125 miles, making it visible to hundreds of millions.
“What distinguishes this celestial event is the emergence of the otherwise unseen outermost rays of the Sun, known as the corona. These rays radiate around the Moon, resembling a colossal halo of light that extends into space, reaching a distance up to five times the Sun’s diameter” the Farmers Almanac states. “While other types of eclipses may cast shadows and dim the sky, none quite match the awe-inspiring and otherworldly effect generated by a total solar eclipse.”
Learn more about the eclipse at science.nasa.gov.