April 7, 2024
Photos from the April 8, 2024 eclipse at following link:
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Many parts of the country will experience effects from a solar eclipse the afternoon of Monday April 8, 2024. New Jersey will experience a partial eclipse between 85% to 95% depending how far in north Jersey you are located. Northernmost New Jersey should experience a partial solar eclipse just greater than 90%, Central Jersey to South Jersey should experience a partial solar eclipse of 85 to 90% and Cape May less than 85%.
According to the New Jersey State Parks Facebook page, Most of New Jersey will see 85 – 90% of the sun blocked by the Moon. The partial eclipse will begin just after 2 p.m. EST and last until 4:30, with maximum coverage around 3:25 p.m. To observe the event, and avoid serious injury to the eye, only use approved eclipse glasses. These glasses, which are thousands of times darker than your average sunglasses, are widely available for purchase.
Many New Jerseyans have already traveled or are planning to travel tomorrow to the center of the 115-mile-wide path of totality in states such as New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine or Ohio. See NASA maps below and NASA page for the eclipse.
If traveling to New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine or other states to be under the 115-mile-wide path of totality be prepared for major traffic issues leaving the areas of the eclipse. I personally experienced a 535-mile bumper to bumper traffic from the 2017 eclipse, from Spring City, TN to State Line, PA where traffic finally subsided.
Book hotels and be prepared to stay overnight to avoid traffic jams leaving these areas.
The current weather forecast is showing the best states for eclipse viewing are Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine with the least amount of clouds blocking the view. If in New York State the areas forecasted the best skies are closer to the State Line with Vermont. Check with the National Weather Service offices for your local forecast.
Prepare to be stuck in bumper to bumper and slow traffic for hours. Prior to the eclipse to have extra food, water and supplies in your vehicle in case of long traffic jams leaving the area. Have a full tank of gas or a full electric charge for your vehicle prior to the eclipse. Arrive early and plan to stay late, stay overnight and return the next day due to traffic concerns.
As of last night, outside of Burlington, Vermont, eclipse goers have been seen on highway pull off and rest areas sleeping in their vehicles. In upstate New York, rest areas were very busy yesterday afternoon and many out of state tags were seen traveling north to the eclipse area in preparation for tomorrow’s eclipse.
According to NASA, after the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.
If you miss this one you will have to wait 20 years to see the next one in the USA.
New Jersey State Parks and Historic Sites reports that, Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will occur along a roughly 115-mile-wide path from Mexico to Newfoundland. Approximately 32 million people live along the path of totality which arcs northeast across North America.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from part of the Earth, depending on location.
Almost everyone in North America will see a partial solar eclipse, with the Moons’ shadow taking a chunk out of the Sun over a few hours. Only those who live or travel into the path of totality will have a view of the Sun’s corona during the height of the eclipse.
Most of New Jersey will see 85 – 90% of the sun blocked by the Moon. The partial eclipse will begin just after 2 p.m. EST and last until 4:30, with maximum coverage around 3:25 p.m. To observe the event, and avoid serious injury to the eye, only use approved eclipse glasses. These glasses, which are thousands of times darker than your average sunglasses, are widely available for purchase.
Although total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, they recur at the same place only once every 350 to 400 years. The next total solar eclipse visible across the United States (from California through Florida) won’t be until 2045. So, enjoy this one!
If you wish to view the solar eclipse, make sure you, do it safely by wearing special eclipse glasses. Protect your cameras with special solar filters designed for photographing the eclipse.
According to the American Astronomical Society on “How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely”
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks any part of the Sun’s bright face. On Monday, April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible (weather permitting) across nearly all of North America. All 50 U.S. states (excluding most of Alaska) will experience at least a partial solar eclipse, as will most of Canada, all of Mexico, and all countries in Central America. Anyone within a roughly 115-mile-wide path across Mexico, from Texas through Maine, across parts of Eastern Canada will experience a total solar eclipse, one of the most spectacular sights in all of nature.
During a partial or total solar eclipse, such as the one on April 8th, looking directly at the Sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase (“totality”), when the Moon entirely blocks the Sun’s bright face, which happens only within the narrow path of totality. At all other times, it is safe to look directly at the Sun only through special-purpose solar filters that comply with the transmittance requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard. To find out whether your home or any other location lies within the roughly 115-mile-wide path of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, see Xavier Jubier’s Google Map.
Suppliers of Safe Solar Viewers & Filters
Instructions for the Safe Use of Solar Filters/Viewers
Instructions for All Solar Eclipses
- Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
- Always supervise children using solar filters.
- If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
- Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.
- Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
- Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
- Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.
For futher information make sure to visit the American Astronomical Society on “How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely”
Various traffic signs posted along the highways in New York and Vermont yesterday warning to expect traffic delays because of tomorrow’s eclipse.
Above photos from the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse Spring City, TN
NASA images above.
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