People are seen watching the annular solar eclipse with sun-filtering glasses at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in October 2023. Credit – Carlos Tischler—Getty Images
THere are a few natural events that can evoke the same feeling as a solar eclipse. Myths and legends have developed around the world to explain the rare phenomenon that occurs when the moon’s shadow blocks light from the sun, causing a temporary period of darkness at midday. In ancient China, eclipses were said to indicate that the sun had been swallowed by a dragon, while in South America, subjects of the Inca Empire believed it was a sign of the sun god’s anger at the world.
On April 8, 2024, residents of Canada, the United States and Mexico will have the opportunity to watch a total solar eclipse in person. TIME spoke with experienced solar eclipse travelers to get tips for anyone planning a solar eclipse trip to get the most out of the experience.
What should you pay attention to before going on a solar eclipse trip?
Journey to the path of wholeness
Most places along the path of the eclipse will experience only a partial solar eclipse, where the sun is not completely covered by the moon. Many people assume this may be enough, but to truly experience what a solar eclipse feels like, you must travel to the path of totality where the sun is 100% covered. “A partial eclipse is not an eclipse. It’s not really getting closer. “You have to be on the path of totality to really experience it,” Paul Bryans, a project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, tells TIME.
You can use this map to check if a location is on the line of totality. Places within the integrity line are shaded in the darkest shade of red.
Read more: How Are Cities Around the US Celebrating the Eclipse?
Weather conditions
Another thing to consider when considering where to travel for a solar eclipse is the weather conditions in different locations along the totality line. If it’s cloudy outside, you may not get the full experience. The effects of the eclipse are much less dramatic when there are clouds blocking the sun and moon.
One way to avoid this problem is to choose a location along the totality line with a good chance of sunny weather. Most of the places with the highest chances of sunny weather for the eclipse in 2024 are in Mexico. If you choose to stay in the United States during the eclipse, weather conditions are also expected to be good in many parts of Texas. As a general rule of thumb for the 2024 eclipse, the further south you go along the eclipse line, the more likely the weather will be nice. “Once you get to the northern reaches, you’re much more likely to be disappointed,” Brian McGee, founder of Astro Trails, which organizes solar eclipse tours, told TIME.
Book accommodation and tickets in advance
Every expert TIME spoke with warned about how quickly accommodation and travel tickets sell out in eclipse destinations. You can expect Airbnbs and hotel prices to increase significantly around or during the eclipse. Transportation may also take much longer than usual. Traffic jams caused by tourists flocking to cities to catch the solar eclipse can significantly extend your travel time, so you should plan accordingly. Major traffic jams were recorded in Wyoming and Kentucky during the 2017 solar eclipse. The streets did not return to normal until approximately nine hours after the eclipse ended.
Whatever you do, make sure you arrive at your destination a few hours before the eclipse begins. “Everything will be crazy on the day of the eclipse. So my advice to people is that if they are going to travel by car or plane, do it early. “Don’t leave it until Monday, April 8,” John Gianforte, director of the University of New Hampshire observatory, told TIME.
Read more: How Do Animals and Nature React to Eclipses?
Things to consider during a solar eclipse trip
Protect your eyes
As we move towards a solar eclipse, many people like to observe the sun to watch it slowly cover more and more of the moon. However, if you want to watch this period of the partial eclipse, it is very important that you use appropriate eye protection. “Having an eclipse doesn’t make looking at the sun more dangerous, but it does make people want to look at the sun,” Gianforte says.
Regular sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection for eclipse viewing, but the American Astronomical Society has a list of eclipse eye protection suppliers that meet international safety standards. If you already wear glasses, make sure the solar filter is placed on the outside of your glasses. Similarly, if you’re viewing the partial eclipse through a camera, you’ll need to make sure your camera lens has a certified solar filter on it. These filters are designed to protect your camera and eyes from the dangerous parts of the sun’s rays. No matter what lens you look at the eclipse through, “the closest thing to the Sun should be the filter,” Gianforte says.
Remove eye protection during integrity
A common misconception about solar eclipses is that you should keep your sun protection glasses on at all times. However, if you are on the path to totality and the sun is 100% covered by the moon, you can look directly at the eclipse without eye protection. Eclipse veterans say TIME strongly recommends removing sun protection from both your eyes and camera equipment during totality to truly enjoy the experience. “When totality occurs, you should definitely take off your glasses and look directly at the sun,” says Bryans. “If you don’t, you’ll miss out on many of the most interesting parts of the job.”
However, it should not be forgotten that for the 2024 eclipse, the totality period will last a maximum of four and a half minutes, according to NASA. Be sure to check the exact timing of totality where you are viewing the eclipse, and immediately resume using solar filters just before the totality period ends.
Read more: These Are All Different Types of Eclipses
Observe your surroundings
One of the most fascinating things to observe during an eclipse is not only the eclipse itself, but also the way the environment changes around you. You will be able to feel the temperature drop about 10°F during the fullness period. Animals such as birds, cats and dogs may begin to behave differently as they struggle with the chaos created by the sun suddenly disappearing in the middle of the day. When you look at the sky when the sun is obscured, you may even see brighter stars and planets.
What should you pay attention to after a solar eclipse trip?
Journal about your experience
Following the eclipse, you may want to journal your thoughts and feelings to help you remember the experience and grasp the beauty of what you witnessed. Seeing an eclipse can sometimes cause people to become overcome with emotions, and journaling can be a good way to process these emotions. “This is one of the most emotionally evocative natural phenomena you will ever see,” Gianforte says. “It’s like if you go to the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest… it’s very hard to explain. “Everyone should see a total solar eclipse at least once in their life,” he said.
Wait until the next day to return if possible
While you can expect traffic congestion on the way there, you should expect similar delays on the way back. It’s a good idea to spend an extra day there as it can help you avoid traffic congestion on the roads.
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