Solar Eclipse: A Memory & an Event

The first total solar eclipse of 2024 will occur on April 8th.

Photo by Jongsun Lee on Unsplash

It will be visible in Mexico, Eastern Canada, and 13 states of the United States (see the complete list below). What is the solar eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon shifts between the sun and the earth, blocking sunlight from reaching this planet for a few minutes.

My First Solar Eclipse Memory

Today, social media discussions revolve around the solar eclipse’s astrological effects. When I was a child, my friends and I searched our homes for X-ray plates. Yes, you read that right. We learned in school that directly observing an eclipse will cause harm to our eyes.

We were too young to comprehend why. We were thus hell-bent on protecting ourselves from this “harmful” yet interesting natural event. As we grew up, we understood that X-ray plates block harmful sun rays.

Your eyes will get protection, and you can watch the event freely. Sunglasses or cameras are unable to block these rays. It was also “cost-effective” because we did not buy anything new and could use an age-old X-ray plate. You can use this method if you are unable to find solar eclipse glasses near you.

Tips to Observe Eclipse Safely

Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash

Apart from the X-ray plates, you can follow these 3 tips to watch the first solar eclipse of 2024:

1. You can project the solar eclipse on paper or ground by using cardboard. Now, create a small pinhole on the cardboard.
2. Do not use smartphone cameras to capture pictures during an eclipse. The harmful rays can still cause damage to your eyes. Use good solar filters if you want to capture the moment.
3. Use solar eclipse glasses. I believe it is the best and the safest option. You can find them on Target, Home Depot, and similar places.

Solar Eclipse Path

As per NASA, this is the list of states in the US from where the solar eclipse will be visible on April 8th, 2024:

1. Texas
2. Arkansas
3. Oklahoma
4. Kentucky
5. Missouri
6. Pennsylvania
7. Ohio
8. New York
9. Illinois
10. Indiana
11. Vermont
12. New Hampshire
13. Maine

You can check the exact timings (US only) from here.