Wait … so there’s an eclipse about to happen?
If you missed the memo on a major astronomical event happening in a week, consider this a friendly reminder — there’s a major astronomical event set to happen Monday, April 8. And this isn’t just some meager meteor show you can walk outside for.
You actually need to prepare if you want to view the solar eclipse.
For any procrastinators, don’t let the time tick away too much. Here’s the key information you should be aware of before the moon passes between Earth and the sun next week.
First of all, when is the eclipse? It’s sooner rather than later
The total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, April 8. The total eclipse will hit the coast of Mexico on April 8, about 11:07 a.m. PDT and leave the continental North America at 5:16 p.m. NDT (Newfoundland Time).
The partial eclipse will begin first as the edge of the moon becomes visible, and then about an hour and 20 minutes later the totality will begin and last for three or four minutes before the sun begins to appear again.
Will Florida see the total solar eclipse?
Florida is not in the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse, so residents won’t see the moon completely block the sun. Residents will see a partial eclipse, though.
Depending on your location, anywhere from 54 percent to 82 percent of the sun will be blocked.
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, plus parts of Tennessee and Michigan, are all in the 115-mile-wide path of totality.
To see the exact path of totality, check out an interactive map created by French eclipse expert Xavier Jubier.
When to watch in Tallahassee and what’s the forecast
According to timeanddate.com, the partial eclipse will last for about two and a half hours in Tallahassee, starting at about 1:42 p.m. and ending at about 4:17 p.m. with maximum viewing at 3 p.m.
That’s, of course, if Mother Nature cooperates. The current forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with a 13% chance of rain.
Join the crowd at Kleman Plaza to watch the solar spectacle
Looking to get outside and view the Great North American Eclipse on April 8? The Challenger Learning Center will be hosting a viewing event in Kleman Plaza with the Tallahassee Astronomical Society.
Inside the planetarium, the Challenger center will stream the celestial event and the movement of the eclipse across North America. They’ll also have glasses on hand for $2 for an outdoor watch party in Kleman Plaza where TAS will set up telescopes.
Floridians will see 71% of a total eclipse, so not completely covered, but Alan Hanstein, executive director of the Challenger Learning Center, says folks will still be in for a “real treat.”
In 2017, thousands of all ages gathered at the Challenger Learning Center’s viewing party at Kleman Plaza to witness the brief but historical solar eclipse.
If you don’t have glasses yet, go here (maybe)
Before you even grab glasses, you want to make sure you get the right ones. Or else.
NASA warns viewing any part of the sun with binoculars, a telescope or through a camera lens without a special-purpose solar filter or with your bare eyes without solar viewing glasses can result in severe eye injury.
American Astronomical Society’s website shares a curated list of approved vendors for eclipse glasses and how to spot knock-offs. Check the list before purchasing any.
Free solar eclipse glasses are also typically given out by local libraries, schools and observatories. These locations might have limited supplies, so it’s best to call ahead to see if they have any available.
More:Where to get free eclipse glasses: Sonic, Jeni’s, Warby Parker and more giving glasses away
Here’s some stores and restaurants where you might be able to get free eclipse glasses:
Didn’t score glasses? Don’t fret — Here’s how to view the eclipse without glasses
If you didn’t get a chance to grab any glasses, no need to worry! There are plenty of hacks to view the eclipse, such as:
Using a pizza box to view the eclipse
According to foodie blog Delish, you will need pizza box, tin foil, scissors, a pen and scotch tape.
“In short, you cut the pizza box in half and poke a one-inch round hole in the middle of one side, then cover it with tin foil and poke another small hole in the foil,” the site explained. “On the other half of the pizza box, tape a plain white sheet of paper. Stand with the sun behind you, and the magic will happen.”
Use a cracker to view the eclipse
Use a buttery round cracker (think Ritz or saltine) and a white sheet of paper. With your back toward the sun, hold the cracker up to the paper. Your eyes should be looking away from the sun, which is what’s required for safe, indirect viewing, experts say. The solar eclipse will filter through the tiny cracker holes.
Use a slotted spoon
Use a slotted spoon with round holes in it. Again, with your toward the sun, hold up the spoon to the sheet of paper and watch the solar eclipse project an image.
Use a colander or bowl
According to Dennis Ward, retired president of Longmont Astronomical Society in Colorado, “Another great projection viewing device is a colander or pasta strainer with holes, not slots.“
Same instructions apply, stand with your back toward the sun, and hold up the colander to the sheet of paper to see the eclipse.
Let the apps answer all your eclipse-focused questions
If you feel the need to study up on the eclipse or you have any pressing questions that you can’t find on Google, you can turn to the hundreds of solar eclipse apps available. USA Today highlighted these popular apps ahead of April 8:
- Total Solar Eclipse (Only only IOS)
- Eclipse 2024 (Only on IOS)
- One Eclipse
- The NASA App
Need somewhere to go watch? Here are 6 Florida events to check out
Whether you’re goal is to pretend you planned way out in advance or just head somewhere where you can learn more about the eclipse, here’s six events to choose from:
- Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at the Orlando Science Center – 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803
- Partial Eclipse and Earth Day Celebration at Kennedy Space Center – Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953
- There Goes the Sun: Solar Eclipse Viewing at Palm Beach Gardens – Mirasol Park, 12385 Jog Road
- Solar Eclipse viewing at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium – 4801 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
- Eclipse Viewing at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium – 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905
- Eclipse viewing at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science – 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Don’t be late: Check the time
Depending on what part of Florida you’re in, residents should start to see the eclipse beginning about 1:35 p.m. EDT on April 8, 2024, with the midpoint at 2:55 p.m. Whether you’re just watching the eclipse from home or heading out to an event, make sure you keep track of time (to be safe, no naps from noon to 3 p.m.)
Weather could affect the view in some spots
We all know that Florida’s weather can change at any hour or minute. Heck, even any second! Put your weather app to good use and on Sunday, April 7, see what the weather conditions are for the upcoming day.
Solar eclipse 2024:Latest news on a surprising forecast and where to snag some glasses
How to take photos, videos, time-lapses
FLORIDA TODAY Photo Chief Malcolm Denemark shared tips on how to take photos of the eclipse, saying the number one piece of advice is to protect your eyes with eclipse glasses. Even through the lens of your camera.
If you plan to use a professional camera, he said you’ll need a certain filter, which can be ordered on Amazon. If you’re not a Prime member, order those as soon as possible.
“These filters are approximately 16 stops darker than normal,” Denemark said. “Standard neutral density and polarizing filters are not dark enough.”
FLORIDA TODAY photo editor:Here’s how to safely photograph the April 8 solar eclipse
If you’re using your phone to photograph the eclipse, you’ll still need to take precautions.
“Hold or tape solar eclipse filter material or solar glasses in front of the phone camera,” Denemark said. “You can seriously damage your phone and camera if trying to shoot directly at the sun without appropriate filter material.”
Is there school in Florida during the eclipse?
For states in the path of totality, some schools are taking the day off to let students enjoy the rare event. However, Florida students will still be in the classroom.
As of March 29, Florida school calendars do not list Monday, April 8 as a day off. So if your child tells you it’s a three-day weekend coming up, just brush it off.
Contributing reporting: Jennifer Sangalang and Michelle Spitzer, Florida Today