Hail Brave Hearts

April 8, 2024 will gift some of us with a rare, celestial occurrence, a total eclipse of the sun.

Although eclipses occur about once every eighteen months, the moon’s orbital path changes to such an extent, that it only follows the same path, about once every three hundred and sixty to four hundred and ten years.  The moon, the sun and the Earth are all slightly tipped, so the moon travels around the Earth in a slightly different path, each orbit and  is seen in a slightly different location, in the sky, with each passing.  Most of the time, the eclipse occurs over the Earth’s oceans, so, although it occurs with a frequency, it is not easily viewed from land.  The April 8, 2024 total eclipse of the sun will be seen in North American, throughout the United States and in Southern Canada and Newfoundland.  Some of the other parts of the country, will experience a partial eclipse of the sun, where the moon will darken only a portion of the sun.  In a total eclipse, the moon will darken the sun entirely and the Earth will have no sunlight at all.  In a partial eclipse, the moon passes over only a section of the sun and only partial darkness occurs.

In these eclipses, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking out the sun’s rays to the Earth and causing darkness. Due to the high speed which the moon travels, the eclipse usually lasts only a few minutes, but has been recorded as lasting up to seven and a half minutes.  The solar eclipse only occurs during eclipse season.  This is when the sun is in either the ascending or descending stage of the moon.

Total solar eclipse: Who will be able to see it, when is it and why does it happen? (youtube.com)

The first recording of a total eclipse of the sun is in either 1375 or 1223 BC, in what is present day Syria.  Astronomers have chosen to prefer the second date.

Astronomers chart the movement of celestial objects and are able to forecast the locations of the sun, the moon and the Earth.  With this information they are able to give a prediction of the whereabouts of these sky objects and when and where the next eclipse will appear.  The April 8, 2024 is a solar eclipse.  A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the moon and the sun and prevents the sun’s rays from illuminating the moon.  The moon darkens for a few minutes, while the Earth passes by.

Although this is an exciting event to witness, it is necessary to take precautions, during the viewing, of this phenomena.  The sun’s light is so bright that if it is directly viewed by the human eye, it can cause blindness.  The retina has no sense of pain and therefore there is no warning as to the injury to the eye.  It might take several hours, before eye injury is noticed.  This eye injury is irreversible.  Protective shields and eyewear must be worn so that the sun doesn’t cause eye damage.

However, if you have the ability to witness this event, take advantage of it, with precautions.  This might be your only opportunity to witness this rare event.

Written by Dr. Louise Hayes

April 7, 2024