The proverbial stars will align on April 8, 2024, and Fort Worth will be in the direct path of a total solar eclipse, with the maximum occurring just after 1:40 p.m. TCU 新闻 spoke with physics and astronomy instructor Richard Bonde about what we can expect.
Can you tell us about the eclipse we will see on April 8 and what 
the viewing will be like in Fort Worth?
The eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be a solar eclipse. 这是 where the moon will
遮挡阳光. In Fort Worth, we will see a total solar eclipse, where
the sun will be completely blocked 月光下. Fort Worth is along the path of 整体,
where the total solar eclipse will happen. Those locations outside the path of totality
will see a partial solar eclipse. Just a note if you need a picture of the path of
整体, this website offers a helpful visual.
What is different about this eclipse from ones we have experienced recently?
There was an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, but Fort Worth was only in a
path for us to see a partial solar eclipse. The difference between that eclipse and
the one on April 8 will be strikingly different since the sun will be completely covered
月光下. Going further back, there was a total solar eclipse in 2017, which was
seen as a partial solar eclipse in Fort Worth. There are a couple of differences for
those who saw totality in 2017. First is the length of totality. 而2017年的太阳能
eclipse was about two and half minutes long, the April 2024 eclipse will be close
到四分钟. Another difference will be in terms of solar activity. 太阳
goes through about an 11-year period of increased solar (magnetic) activity. 2017年
solar eclipse happened during a quiet time (solar minimum). 当前的太阳活动周期
is expected to peak in mid-to-late 2024, which means the April 8 solar eclipse will
be just before or during solar maximum. There is a higher chance to see solar activity,
such as a solar prominence.
Sometimes eclipses can make interesting shadows and other phenomena. 为什么会这样
occur, and can we expect to see that with this eclipse?
A small aperture can act as a lens, focusing the light rays (pinhole effect). 你
can make a pinhole camera using a cardboard box. The light that passes through the
pinhole will show the eclipsed sun during the partial eclipse phase (about an hour
before 在全食之后). Also, during this time, look at the shadows of tree leaves
在地上. They make a similar effect to the pinhole camera, showing the shape
日食的景象. 在 整体, stars, planets and even comets could be visible.
On April 8, Jupiter and Venus will both be visible during totality. A comet (12P/Pons-Brooks)
will be passing near the sun on April 8 and may also be visible during totality. 在
this time, the sky will get dark and the temperature will drop.
Can you give us the lowdown on viewing? 我们知道 TCU is hosting viewing 站 for faculty, staff and students. What are other good viewing points?
Totality is expected to start at 1:40 p.m. CDT. 太阳 will be high in the sky, which
makes viewing the eclipse relatively easy. The TCU viewing points will work well;
the most important thing to remember is to find an open area. 有很多
observations of animals acting weird during a total solar eclipse, so a fascinating
location to view it would be at a zoo.
我们知道 safety is important. What can you tell us about safe viewing?
First would be eclipse的眼镜. TCU will be providing eclipse的眼镜 at their viewing
站. 对于那些不在校园的人， make arrangements to get glasses as soon as possible.
Except for the roughly four minutes of 整体, the eclipse的眼镜 need to be on
any time you look at the sun. It is perfectly safe to look at the sun during totality.
The sky will get dark, and you will no longer be able to see the sun through your
eclipse的眼镜. That’s the moment you can take them off. 对于那些不在校园的人，
try to avoid pulling over on major streets and highways during totality. 不仅
will traffic be a mess, but there can be a chance for accidents if everyone starts
一次把车停在路边. Find a park or somewhere similar and get there early enough
to be settled once totality starts. Certainly, do not view the eclipse while driving!
Anything else we should know?
Be prepared for lots of traffic and congestion, especially within the hour or so before
在全食之后. Freeways especially are going to be congested. 去你想去的地方
going early, and, if you can, stay put for a few hours after the eclipse. 这是
going to be an incomparable event in your lifetime – do not miss it!