Experience the Eclipse

A solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), “a total solar eclipse is not noticeable until the sun is more than 90 percent covered by the moon. At 99 percent coverage, daytime lighting resembles local twilight.”

The path of totality is, in the simplest terms, the shadow of the moon crossing the earth. It’s the area where you can see the moon fully cover the sun. During the Great North American Eclipse of 2024, Arkansas’s path of totality includes nearly 2/3 of the state.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth, but the sun, moon and earth are not perfectly aligned. Only a portion the sun will appear to be covered, giving it a crescent shape.

Nearly 2/3 of Arkansas will be in the path of totality. The closer you are to the center of the line of totality, the longer the time of darkness. How do you want to experience the eclipse…on the water, in an urban setting, in a remote area, at a state park or at a museum offering special activities? Arkansas offers eclipse visitors a vast choice of locations to experience this solar event. Hang out with thousands of other gazers or find a secluded spot to enjoy the eclipse alone. The Natural State has a variety of areas and landscapes to choose from. Just remember you’ll want to be somewhere the sky is not obscured by buildings or trees.

In a partial eclipse, the sun is only “partially” obscured and not completely blocked by the moon.

Absolutely yes! If you’re watching the event, either the total eclipse or the partial, and want to look at the sun, you must have specific glasses or viewers. They must be ISO 12312-2 certified, which is the international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the sun. In 2017, online companies were selling “counterfeit” eclipse glasses. It is imperative to know that your glasses are safe. Sunglasses and welding visors are not safe. The only time that it is safe to view the eclipse with the naked eye is during the time of full totality of the sun.

Whether in the full path of totality or in the partial eclipse, certain things will happen. The sun will be obscured in Arkansas at least 94% across the state. The temperature will drop. Here’s a great article on how the “natural” world “reacts” during a solar eclipse. https://www.rainbowsymphony.com/blogs/blog/what-are-the-effects-of-a-solar-eclipse-on-plants-animals