What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
The 2024 total solar eclipse is happening on Monday, April 8! A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely covers the face of the sun. Five phases will occur during this event:
- Partial eclipse begins at 1:49 PM: The moon becomes visible over the sun's disk.
- Total eclipse begins at 3:04 PM: The moon covers the entire disk of the sun, and observers are now within the moon's umbra, the darkest part of the moon's shadow.
- Totality and maximum eclipse at 3:06 PM: The moon completely covers the disk of the sun. Only the sun's corona is visible. This is the most dramatic stage of a total solar eclipse. At this time, the sky goes dark, temperatures can fall, and birds and animals often go quiet. The midpoint of time of totality is known as the maximum point of the eclipse.
- Total eclipse ends at 3:08 PM: The moon starts moving away, and the sun reappears.
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Partial eclipse ends at 4:22 PM: The eclipse ends as the moon leaves the sun's disk.
How to Safely View This Event
Never look directly at the sun without proper eyewear! To safely view a solar eclipse, you need to wear protective eclipse glasses or viewers, or project an image of the eclipsed sun using a pinhole projector to view it indirectly.
The Monroe County Public Library will have a limited quantity of free eclipse viewers available to the public starting March 11 at all Library locations. They will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. One eclipse viewer per household.
Citizen Science Initiatives
- Eclipse Soundscapes Project (Record what the environment sounds like during an eclipse)
- Sun Sketcher (Help NASA track Baily’s Beads with your phone)
- Solar Eclipse Safari (Help record animal behavior during the eclipse)
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GLOBE Observer Eclipse data (Help NASA track the effects of the eclipse on the atmosphere)
Eclipse Events
Although all MCPL locations will be closed on April 8, to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, the Library will have a variety of free programs for all patrons leading up to the eclipse.