2024 total solar eclipse: Where to watch it in Oklahoma and when it will happen
A once-in-a-lifetime event is coming for Oklahomans this April.
For the first time in more than 100 years, areas of Oklahoma will experience a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will start in southwest Texas and move across the United States, including directly over southeast Oklahoma towns like Broken Bow, Idabel, Hugo and Antlers.
During the eclipse, the moon will completely block out the sun, casting a shadow on the Earth.
Here's what you need to know to witness the eclipse, including when it will happen and where to watch.
When is the 2024 solar eclipse?
The 2024 solar eclipse will take place April 8, 2024.
What time will the 2024 eclipse be in Oklahoma?
The eclipse will enter Oklahoma as it crosses the Red River at about 12:27 p.m., and exit the state at about 3:07 p.m., according to National Eclipse.
But the total eclipse, the direct casting of the Moon's shadow, will only last from about 1:44 p.m. to 1:51 p.m. in the state, Great American Eclipse estimates.
The center path of the eclipse, where totality lasts the longest, travels through Oklahoma for a mere 31 miles, the shortest distance of any state through which the centerline travels.
Where in Oklahoma can I see the 2024 eclipse?
While the entire state of Oklahoma will be able to see at least a partial eclipse on April 8, the best place to view the total solar eclipse is in the path of totality that runs through southeastern Oklahoma towns like Broken Bow, Idabel, Hugo and Antlers.
Oklahoma state parks in the path of the total eclipse include Lake Wister, Talimena, Clayton Lake, Beavers Bend and Raymond Gary.
How long will the eclipse last in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma towns that will experience the longest span of totality, or darkness when the moon completely covers the sun, include Idabel and Broken Bow, according to Eclipse2024.org. Totality will last around 4 minutes and 18 seconds in Idabel, and 4 minutes and 16 seconds in Broken Bow.
There are a few unincorporated communities in Oklahoma that will see about an extra second of totality.
The path of totality runs from Mexico (Sinaloa to Coahuila) to the United States (Texas to Maine) to Canada (Ontario to Newfoundland), according to TimeandDate.com.
Solar eclipse 2024: How long will the eclipse last in Oklahoma City? What will it be like?
Where to buy eclipse glasses
The American Astronomical Society cautions against using online sites like Amazon or eBay to purchase eclipse glasses without double-checking the supplier meets ISO standards.
A full list of certified suppliers and resellers is listed on the society's website.
Here are a few options the society recommends:
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When is the 2024 solar eclipse and where can I see it in Oklahoma?
