KPRC2′s solar eclipse guide is a complete resource that aims to equip you with essential information to maximize your experience of the upcoming eclipse. From answering common questions to offering tips for a memorable experience, this guide covers everything you need to know about this celestial event.
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How rare are total solar eclipses?
If you look at a school textbook and see the way the sun, moon and Earth align you’d think some place on the Earth would get a total solar eclipse every month. But this isn’t the case. On average a total solar eclipse occurs on the Earth once every 18 months. And the odds of getting one where you live is once every 375 years! This is despite the moon crossing in front of the sun twice a year as seen from somewhere on Earth. What you may not realize is the sun, moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned.
What is the path of totality?
The moon travels at twice the speed of sound with a ground velocity more than 2,000 miles per hour. As the umbral shadow passes over Texas, the sights you’ll see are truly remarkable. And unlike the 2017 total eclipse, the path is larger and the time to see totality is longer. The total eclipse starts in Texas at 1:27 PM CDT. Eagle Pass, Texas is the first place to experience the awe-inspiring view of the moon blocking out the sun.
SEE ALSO: Why upcoming eclipse is such a rare event
Best times and places to witness the Great Texas Eclipse
Eagle Pass, Texas
- Totality time: 1:27 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 4 minutes, 23 seconds
Uvalde, Texas
- Totality time: 1:29 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 4 minutes, 16 seconds
Kerrville, Texas
- Totality time: 1:32 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 4 minutes, 23 seconds
SEE ALSO: TxDOT shares driving safety tips for those headed to see Great Texas Eclipse
Austin, Texas
- Totality time: 1:36 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 1 minute, 53 seconds
Killeen, Texas
- Totality time: 1:36 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 4 minutes, 17 seconds
Fort Worth, Texas
- Totality time: 1:40 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 2 minutes, 34 seconds
Dallas, Texas
- Totality time: 1:40 p.m. CDT
- Duration of totality: 3 minutes, 47 seconds
What you’ll see first and last - The Diamond Ring Effect:
Moments before totality begins, as the last of the sun’s light goes into the moon’s shadow a “diamond ring” in the sky appears. To me, this is the most memorable and striking thing you’ll see. It only lasts a brief moment and serves as a reminder to take off your solar eclipse glasses to see the total eclipse.
2nd Baily’s Beads:
Another spectacular site that only lasts a few moments are Baily’s Beads. These are named after Sir Frances Baily who was the first to describe them in 1836. These occur as the sun’s light pass through the low lying valleys of the moon. The moon is rugged with craters covering the outer edges. People who witness totality from the outside lines get a much better view than those on the center line. San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth should see plenty of these beads.
3rd Totality - Seeing the sun’s corona:
During totality we get a rare look at the sun’s outer most atmosphere. It is intricate and feathery made up of free electrons and protons that are trapped in the sun’s loopy and streaky magnetic field. The sun is 1,000 times brighter than the corona. This brilliance overwhelms the corona so the only time we can see it is during a total solar eclipse.
The corona is hot! It is 2 million degrees compared to the surface of the sun which is 50,000°. Corona is Spanish for crown. The entire state of Texas gets more than 4 minutes to see this. Because are at solar maximum, the corona will be more brilliant than 2017. Pictures, no matter how good, can never capture what our eyes see of this spectacular site. Below is an example, from Killeen, Texas showing that this city will get 4 minutes and 16 seconds of totality. In Oregon, 2017, I got 58 seconds.
Also during totality - Prominences & the sun’s Chromosphere:
Prominences are large, bright, gaseous features that extend outward from the Sun’s surface into its outer atmosphere. They are manifestations of the Sun’s magnetic field interacting with its hot plasma. They look like flares erupting from the sun. These are easier to see with a telescope or binoculars.
The end of totality:
As totality comes to an end, you’ll experience everything described above in reverse order. Seeing the diamond ring effect one more time signifies totality is over.
When was the last Texas solar eclipse?
Getting a total eclipse is rare. We have to go back to May 28, 1900 for the last time the state of Texas saw a total solar eclipse. But this eclipse only went over South Texas. More of the state saw a total solar eclipse July 29, 1878.
SEE ALSO: Experiencing totality: Best times and places to witness the Great Texas Eclipse
When is the next Texas total solar eclipse?
We don’t have to wait as long for the next Texas eclipse. But not much of the state is in totality. August 12, 2045, is the next Great American Eclipse - 21 years away!
When will Houston see another solar eclipse?
The next total solar eclipse in Houston is 176 years away on April 14, 2200!
Why has the National Guard been deployed to Texas for the upcoming Solar Eclipse?
According to a TikTok user @ToddGross, the National Guard has been called to Texas to ensure the safety and security of the public during the solar eclipse. In his video, Gros
s explains that the large influx of visitors expected in Texas has prompted the need for additional support from the National Guard.
“The total eclipse path is only 70 miles wide. And three types of folks are flooding into that 70-mile wide path,” Gross explained. “Those from overseas that know how great a total eclipse is and they’re going to be coming on it. Those that are eclipse chasers in the United States that have seen one before, and know how great a total eclipse is, and they’ll be flooding in. And those that live near the path that are hearing about it and need to get in the path to see the total eclipse.”
Will the solar eclipse impact the Texas power grid?
ERCOT solar generation will be impacted between 12:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. with the maximum impact occurring around 1:40 p.m. During the solar eclipse, solar generation will experience a decrease of 7.6 percent from its maximum clear sky output.
“On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over the state of Texas from the Southwest to Northeast direction between approximately 12:10 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. CDT,” ERCOT said in a statement to KPRC 2. “ERCOT is working on forecasting models to reflect reduced solar power production and does not expect any grid reliability concerns during the eclipse.”
Here are some questions and information to help you make the most of your experience: