HARRISBURG, Pa. — Mark your calendars: A rare opportunity to view a solar eclipse is coming to Central Pa. on April 8!
A solar eclipse happens when the moon crosses between the sun and the Earth and casts a shadow.
Most of North America will see at least a portion of the eclipse.
The path of totality, where 100% of the eclipse is viewed, passes through Mexico, the U.S., and southeastern Canada.
Here in the U.S., the eclipse passes through several states! The path of totality passes through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Central Pa. isn't in the path of totality, but you don't have to travel too far if you want to experience it in it's full astronomical glory! The far northwestern portion of the Commonwealth can see the eclipse in its entirety during the afternoon. In Erie, the eclipse starts at 2:02 P.M. EST and ends at 4:30 P.M. Totality lasts for a several minutes from 3:16 P.M. to 3:20 P.M., with the maximum eclipse right in the middle at 3:18 P.M. Totality is when the moon completely covers the sun's disk.
If you're staying in town like most of us, nearly 90% of the eclipse will be visible for our area. Not too shabby! The viewing times are very similar to Erie as well, so set aside some times for the afternoon if you can. Those times are listed in the next graphic below. The last time a solar eclipse was visible in our area was Saturday, October 14, 2023. That was an annular eclipse, where the moon appears smaller than the sun. This creates a "ring of fire" effect of the sun around the moon for those in the path of totality. Only 30% of that eclipse was visible to viewers in Central Pa. Clouds and rain put a damper on that one.
Directly looking at an eclipse can be harmful to your eyes. This includes using a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special solar filter.
To safely view the event, you can purchase eclipse glasses, which are darker and will protect your eyes. If you don't have access to glasses, there are other methods to indirectly view the eclipse like using a pinhole projector. You can find a full explanation of how to build this on NASA's website.
Of course, having the path on your side is only half of the battle! The weather must cooperate too during the afternoon of April 8th! The FOX43 Weather Smart Team will keep you informed as it gets closer!
Fingers crossed!
