On April 8, 2024, a spectacular and rare celestial event is set to unfold over Canada, the United States and Mexico – a total solar eclipse. As the Moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the Sun, temporary darkness will sweep across parts of the country, captivating countless spectators.
If you’ve never experienced totality, I highly encourage you to go. The difference between being in the shadow vs out of it makes all the difference. 1-99% eclipse is basically the same vs 100%
Here’s a couple of differences: With totality, the stars become visible again. The darkness is such that air temperature drops like at sunset. Birds stop signing, and insects start chirping. Also, i think you can see the sun’s corona. While the sun is totally blocked, you can look at it with naked eyes.
I’m not sure how much of this occurs with a 95% eclipse… I would encourage anyone to go to the nearest place to see totality. I will personally visit family living 2 hours drive away to be in the totality zone.
I was in an area with 99.8% totality in the 2017 eclipse and all of that happened.
Everyone I know who went to a 100% location described everything you did as the reason for going, but gets annoyed when I explain I experienced literally the exact same thing.
Is it really that much of a difference?
Yes. In totality, you can safely stare at a black hole of a Sun for 2-3 minutes on end, no glasses required, and marvel at the fine details of the corona and the intense red-pink light of the chromosphere. You get to experience a profound bone-chilling realization that we are on a literal rock hurtling through space.
Yeah, that all happened in 99.8% too, so what did I miss?
I doubt you saw all that for 2-3 minutes, but if you’re happy with what you saw then that’s all that matters, really. Enjoy April 8th and clear skies!
❤️
I have not seen a total one since i was a small kid, so I can’t really say… Totality will have these things last longer, but I’m sure there is no clear-cut difference.
Totally makes sense. Personally I was so in awe of what I did see it was more than enough to make the experience worth it.
Point being even if you’re not able to get quite into the path of totality, if you can watch it you absolutely should! :)