If you are going to be observing the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse (TSE) from Texas please review the image below. On eclipse day you will need to be somewhere in that shaded area, and preferably closer to the blue or “centerline” during the eclipse. It doesn’t matter whether you are in extreme south Texas or all the way up on the Red River in northeast Texas, as long as you are between the lines and again, close to the blue centerline you’ll enjoy up to 4 minutes and 20 + seconds of totality (weather permitting). That means the Moon completely covering the Sun and providing amazing views of the sun’s corona and other astonishing solar eclipse phenomena.

If you have never witnessed a TSE here is your big chance but remember to experience the totally eclipsed Sun you must be in between the shaded lines on the map above or somewhere along this path whether it be down in Mexico or farther up into the eastern U.S. or Canada. There is no almost about this! Totality only occurs between the marked lines seen on the map. But be warned, the closer you are to one of the red lines (border of totality) but still within the “path of totality” the SHORTER your totality time. This is why it’s important to try and get as close as you can to the centerline for maximum totality. The reason for the reduction in totality duration as you move away from the centerline is directly related to the fact that the Moon is round. The moon is round and so is its shadow as it falls on the Earth.

So make your arrangements to get yourself in the path of totality on eclipse day otherwise you are just going to see a partial solar eclipse. The difference between seeing a partial solar eclipse and a total solar eclipse is like hitting the traveling carnival in your local shopping center parking lot or going to Disney World in Florida. Maybe I’m dating myself a little? Do they still even have traveling carnivals? Anyway, there is no comparison. You do not get to see totality with a partial solar eclipse, and that is where the magic happens.

Important!  The partial phases of the TSE leading up to and immediately after totality must be viewed with approved solar filters! Do not look at the Sun with your naked eyes. Doing so will cause irreversible damage to your eyes and can even result in total blindness. The only time you can use your naked eyes to view the eclipse is during that short period of totality – if you are in the path of totality!

Many of the hotels and events that are happening for this eclipse have already booked up. Especially the hotels, and some years in advance. But if you live here in Texas, you can simply drive to your selected spot early on eclipse day. That’s assuming you have reservations and/or permission to be on a friends property at a  state park, etc., and taking traffic into account. By the way, this is the last TSE to grace the contiguous United States for 20 years, and that next TSE on August 23, 2044 will only be visible at sunset in 3 states – Montana and the Dakotas. Here’s wishing us all favorable weather on eclipse day 4/8/24.

Eclipse Viewing Considerations

1. 1. LOCATION – Have you picked out your spot to view the eclipse? This could be anything from your home if you live in the path of totality to a special eclipse event that many towns and cities in the path are hosting (some free some requiring purchased tickets) or maybe a camping spot. Wherever you are going to be lock in your reservation now if you haven’t already. Don’t wait.
   2. GEAR/EQUIPMENT – Do you have everything you need for the event? Now is the time to gather it together and ensure it all works. Make your list now and confirm you have what you need. Don’t wait until the weekend before the eclipse. It’s also a good idea to practice with your equipment (especially cameras, lenses, telescopes, etc.) now before eclipse day.
   3. WEATHER – So you have a place to view the eclipse from but do you have a backup plan in the event that, dare I say it, you are clouded out? Plot out now where you are willing to go and how far away from home along the path of totality you are willing to travel to get to clear skies. Monitor the weather closely beginning 10 or more days from eclipse day and plan accordingly. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has a page dedicated to eclipse weather that you’ll want to monitor. In 2017 I was dead set on Hiawatha, Kansas then the forecast changed and I ended up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
   4. TOTALITY – The eclipse lasts almost 3 hours. Depending on where you are along the path of totality determines how long totality will last for you. Remember, totality is the halfway point during the eclipse. If you are attending an eclipse event please resist the urge to jump in your car the moment totality is finished and leave with all the rest of the yahoos. In 2017 as soon as totality ended hundreds of people left my viewing location in Kentucky, and the eclipse was only half over. Avoid the traffic jam. Relax. It’s not a race. Play it cool. Stay put. Enjoy the second half of the partial phase of the eclipse. Not only can you say you saw the entire eclipse but you won’t get stuck in traffic lasting, in some cases, hours.

   5. PHOTOGRAPHY –

      

      Resist the urge that many people feel as the eclipse draws closer to turn themselves into professional eclipse photographers. If you’ve never seen a total solar eclipse here’s some advise. Don’t get hip deep in photographing the event. Use your phone’s camera and enjoy the celestial event with your own eyes! Many people miss so much of totality (remember we are talking about less than 5 minutes in the case of this eclipse – totality will go by in a flash!) because they are looking through a camera or fumbling with camera settings and don’t just STOP and take it all in. This is especially true if this is your first total solar eclipse.

   6. SUNSCREEN – It’s a solar eclipse. You are going to be looking up at the sun quite a bit. You have your certified solar shades to protect your eyes but don’t forget your sunscreen. I blew this one off in 2017 and ended up with a lobster face. Oops.

   7. ALONE OR A CROWD? –

      

      I’ve viewed eclipses with hundreds of people and all by myself. Both have advantages and drawbacks. If you have the option to view with a SMALL group I’d recommend that over the monstrous crowd. While planning a family reunion on eclipse day is doable – I’d recommend scheduling that for another time and focusing on the eclipse. This is especially true if you wanting to photograph the event.

   8. TAKE THE DAY OFF – This should go without saying but now is the time to ask to be off from work on eclipse day. It’s hard to get into an eclipse mindset when you are working. Running outside of a building just before totality occurs is better than not seeing it at all but it’s just not the best way to experience a TSE. 
   9. STUDY UP – Now is a great time to read up on all things total solar eclipse! Learn the terminology and what to look for as totality approaches and during totality. There are plenty of solar eclipse phenomenon to look for during a total solar eclipse (crescent shadows, shadow bands, Baily’s Beads, the diamond ring, animal reactions to the darkening sky, etc.). Did you know that observations made during the solar eclipse on May 29, 1919 showed that light bending occurs as Einstein predicted in his Theory of General Relativity?
   10. PARTY! – Don’t forget to enjoy the eclipse and marvel in the amazing celestial spectacle that is a totally eclipsed Sun. This will be my third TSE. 1) February 26, 1998 off the coast of Aruba, 2) August 21, 2017 from Hopkinsville, Kentucky and God willing, my home state of Texas on April 8, 2024.  Sure make a party out of it for the whole family. This is the event of a lifetime after all. 

Check out this great YT video from Smarter Everyday. It runs down all the amazing and unusual things that happen during a TSE so you’ll know what to look for and expect. Additionally, this video talks about a great app for your phone the “Solar Eclipse Timer” app that will announce eclipse milestones and observing tips during the eclipse so you want miss a thing. The app is $1.99 and totally worth every penny.

I hope you have made your plans get to the path of totality whether that’s in Texas, Maine or someplace in between. If this is your first TSE – congratulations and prepare to be amazed! If this is old hat to you well, you know the drill, enjoy! I hope you will share your pictures and eclipse experiences on my FB group. While you are there join the group! I’d love to see your images and hear about what impressed you most about this total solar eclipse, and I know my group members would like to hear about it as well. Here’s to one more time in the shadow of the Moon! 

Clear skies and happy eclipse chasing!

Scott