What you need to know about the solar eclipse; resources, events taking place

The total solar eclipse will likely be one of the biggest events of the year, with almost 32 million people in the United States alone living in the path of totality — the corridor along which the moon will completely cover the sun — and another 150 million living within 200 miles of it.

The solar eclipse will take place Monday, April 8, 2024.

What time will it take place?

It depends on your location - learn more: go.nasa.gov/Eclipse2024Map

From approximately 3:16 PM to 3:20 pm, totality will occur in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. At the same time, the remainder of the state will see the moon covering 90% to 99% of the sun. The eclipse will conclude at approximately 4:30 PM.

Where is totality?

Roughly from Mexico to Texas, Ohio, and Maine, to eastern Canada.

Pennsylvania is in the path of totality.

Find out if your state is go.nasa.gov/EclipseExplorer

What will I see?

Hopefully, you'll see totality depending on your location in the United States (Pennsylvania is). Still, you may also see a partial eclipse, shadow bands, Bailey's beads, and the diamond ring effect.

Go to: go.nasa.gov/EclipsePrep

Out of an abundance of caution, the Allentown School District will be dismissing school early today, according to an announcement on their Facebook page .

“Pennsylvania is lucky to be one of only 13 states in the path of totality for this eclipse, bringing residents and visitors a unique viewing opportunity in our own backyard. The high number of expected visitors is an opportunity to showcase our state and also requires partnership among state agencies and travelers alike,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We are coordinating across agencies as well as with local governments and regional organizations to plan for the likelihood of traffic congestion that day with an emphasis on safety for our residents and eclipse tourists.”

Since many in our area will want to look up at the sky when it darkens, safety is key.

Staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse or at any other time can lead to permanent eye damage.

The eclipse is safe to witness with the naked eye only during totality, or the period of total darkness when the moon completely covers the sun.

Some may have purchased special eclipse glasses, but sunglasses are not protective enough, and binoculars and telescopes without a proper solar filter can magnify light from the sun, making them unsafe.

“Please, please put those glasses on,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said.

Eclipse safety experts recommend that legitimate eclipse glasses. Those should block out almost all visible light and ultraviolet light from the sun. When worn indoors, the glasses should only allow very bright lights to be faintly visible - not household furniture or wallpaper.

Old eclipse glasses from the 2017 total solar eclipse or October’s “ring of fire” annular eclipse are safe to reuse, as long as they aren’t warped and don’t have scratches or holes.

Glasses should say they comply with ISO 12312-2 standards, though fake suppliers can also print this language on their products. NASA does not approve or certify eclipse glasses.

Locally, they are being sold at Dan’s Camera City in South Whitehall Township for 2.00 each. Proceeds go to Moravian University’s astronomy program.

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How to view the eclipse without glasses:

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can still safely enjoy the spectacle by using indirect methods, such as creating a pinhole projector with common household materials.

To make a simple projector, poke a small hole in a piece of cardstock or cardboard, then hold it up during the eclipse and look down to see a partial crescent shape projected below.

You can also use a colander or a cracker to create a similar effect.

If you're in a shaded area, try looking at the ground under a tree to see crescent-shaped shadows created by the sun filtering through leaves and branches.

However, eye experts warn against viewing the eclipse through a phone camera, as this can be harmful to your eyes.

Additionally, the sun's bright rays can also damage your phone's digital components, so it's best to avoid this method altogether.

Why looking at a solar eclipse is dangerous

According to an article by NY Daily News, eye damage can occur without proper protection.

The sun’s bright rays can burn cells in the retina at the back of the eye, it said. The retina doesn’t have pain receptors, so there’s no way to feel the damage as it happens. Once the cells die, they don’t come back.

Symptoms of solar eye damage, called solar retinopathy, include blurred vision and color distortion.

In a rare case of eclipse eye damage, the article said a woman who viewed the 2017 eclipse without proper protection came to Mount Sinai’s New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, complaining of a black spot in her vision. Doctors discovered retinal damage that corresponded to the eclipse’s shape. “The dark spot she was describing was in the shape of a crescent,” said Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, a Mount Sinai ophthalmologist.

According to the article, there’s no way to tell how long of a glance can lead to permanent damage. Severity varies based on cloudiness, air pollution, and a person’s vantage point.

Doctors say looking at a solar eclipse for even a few seconds unprotected isn’t worth the risk.

There are reports of solar retinopathy after every solar eclipse, and U.S. eye doctors saw dozens of extra visits after the one in 2017.

Spectators who plan ahead can secure a stress-free eclipse viewing experience.

“It can be dangerous if we aren’t careful, but it’s also very safe if we take the basic precautions,” said Dr. Geoffrey Emerson, a board member of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

How will animals react?

Plants and animals will begin to react in the lead-up to totality as the light begins to dim, said Angela Speck, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

"Once it gets to about 75%, 80% eclipsed, there's enough sunlight missing that animals will start to react," she said.

About 20 minutes from totality, birds will start to flock, according to ABC News. Some will quiet down. Farm animals, like cows and chickens, will walk back to the barn because they think it's now nighttime, as previous research has shown.

Then, once totality hits, the behavior will start to change again, Speck said.

According to previous research, bees stop buzzing during totality and returned to their hives. Then, when the sunlight re-appeared, the bees seemed disoriented, according to a paper published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America after the 2017 eclipse.

Birds think it's "bedtime," Speck said.

What about pets? Read more here.

Driving during the solar eclipse, follow these guidelines:

If you are driving during the solar eclipse, please follow the guidelines suggested by Governor Shapiro, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)

Solar Eclipse Events:

There are also solar eclipse events taking place throughout the Lehigh Valley.

For more information on the events, check out the following link on the WFMZ website.

Watch online:

Watch live with NASA! 1-4 p.m. EDT go.nasa.gov/Eclipse2024Live

You can also watch it online on EarthCam.

Resources:

Get involved in NASA citizen science project to help scientists study eclipses, the Sun, and our own planet: go.nasa.gov/DoEclipseScience

Additional Resource Links:

Lehigh Valley Hospital Network - How to Safely View the Solar Eclipse:

https://www.lvhn.org/news/how-safely-view-solar-eclipse

American Astronomical Society - Solar Eclipse Resources: