PENNSYLVANIA, USA — On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America from the southwest to the northeast and Pennsylvanians are in luck!
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, most of Pennsylvania lies within the 90% coverage range, so there will be excellent viewing across the state, weather permitting.
During the solar eclipse, the moon will pass between Earth and the sun, blocking the sun's light. For nearly four minutes, the afternoon sky will go dark. The last total solar eclipse to cross the United States was Aug. 21, 2017.
Totality is described as the stage of a solar eclipse where the moon completely blocks out the sun. As for this upcoming eclipse, the path of totality will cross the northwestern portion of the state, touching Erie, Crawford, Warren and Mercer Counties. Four state parks lie within the path:
In Erie, viewers can expect a totality period of 3 minutes and 42 seconds. In 2017, the longest period of totality was experienced near Carbondale, Illinois at 2 minutes and 42 seconds.
However, for those outside of northwestern Pennsylvania, don't fret. According to NASA, 99% of people who live in the United States will be able to see the partial or total eclipse from where they live.
It's important to remember that although the sun will appear tucked away, it's still unsafe to look directly at the sun. The only way to safely view the eclipse is through special-purpose solar filters like eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers. For a step-by-step guide on how to craft your own glasses, click here.