How often does a solar eclipse happen? Details to know about Saturday event in Texas
Residents of some Texas and New Mexico cities will be in an excellent spot to see the solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, along with a second one next year. In El Paso, people can see a partial solar eclipse.
The first one, an annular eclipse, will travel from Oregon to Texas, encircling the moon with a brilliant ring of fire as it's not able to completely cover the sun. The second eclipse will be April 8, 2024, and will be a total eclipse that will travel from Texas to Maine, according to the mcdonaldobservatory.org
Depending on where they live in Texas, residents will have 80 to 100% visibility of the eclipse. The state will sit under the X of the two paths of the eclipses and should enjoy clear weather on those dates.
People going outside to experience the eclipse may feel the air get cooler, and it will be like twilight. They might hear crickets and nocturnal birds calling.
It's been six years since the last one, so it's worth getting excited about again. Here is your guide to the solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14.
When is the next solar eclipse?
The eclipse will start at 9:15 a.m. MT, reaches its maximum at 10:39 a.m. and ends at 12:14 p.m.
What happens when you look at the solar eclipse?
During a partial or annular solar eclipse, like the one on Oct. 14, there is no time when it is safe to look directly at the sun without using adequate eye protection.
Adequate eye protection includes eclipse glasses and viewers. Make sure they meet an international standard of eye protection (ISO 12312-2), are certified and are free of scratches or other flaws. Welding glass: No. 13 or 14 welding glass provides protection and visibility.
Looking at the solar eclipse without eye protection can result in blindness. You could lose your sight temporarily or permanently. Regular sunglasses are not a good replacement.
How to safely view a solar eclipse
Walmart stores and Home Depots carry cardboard solar eclipse glasses. Amazon also sells various brands of eclipse glasses. A pack of 10 Soluna certified glasses costs $19.99.
Ensure you purchase solar filters built to the international standard of eye protection (ISO 12312-2).
Do not use sunglasses or cameras to look at the solar eclipse. And make sure to wear your solar eclipse glasses over your prescription lenses when viewing the eclipse.
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Where to get the best view of the eclipse?
El Pasoans and Juárez residents will be able to see a partial solar eclipse, with about 84% of the sun covered and Las Cruces with 85.7%. Carlsbad residents will be able to see an annular solar eclipse, with 89.8% obscuration, according to experts at McDonald Observatory.
During the annular eclipse, even if you are right in the center of the path (meaning the moon and sun are most aligned, with the moon appearing centered within the sun), about 10% of the sun will be visible, shining around the moon. That means places like Midland, which is along that center line, will see the annular eclipse with 89.8% of the sun covered and 10.1% of the sun shining around the moon as a "ring of fire."
In Texas, the best cities to see the eclipse at 100% are San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Midland-Odessa. In New Mexico, the best cities to see the solar eclipse will be Carlsbad, Roswell, Albuquerque and Gallup. To see what other cities will be viewing, click here.
What happens during the solar eclipse?
When the moon orbits Earth, it sometimes moves between the sun and Earth. When it does, the moon casts a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun's light in some areas. This is a solar eclipse.
Scientists say we can experience solar eclipses because of an incredible astronomical coincidence — the apparent sizes of the sun and moon are the same when seen from Earth. This is because, although the sun is roughly 400 times larger in diameter than the moon, the moon is also 400 times closer to us than the sun.
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Get free eclipse viewing glasses at El Paso libraries
The El Paso Public Libraries will offer free eclipse viewing glasses to skywatchers starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 14 at all library branches.
Branch library staff will give away one pair of glasses per family. In addition, some library branches will offer free story time, crafts and programming associated with the eclipse.
For more information, visit www.ElPasoLibrary.org.
Solar eclipse activities in Midland, Austin, Fort Davis, and Carlsbad
Although only a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Fort Davis, the McDonald Observatory will host eclipse activities at its Frank N. Bash Visitors Center. The visitors center will open at 10 a.m. to allow access during the eclipse.
In Austin, the University of Texas will hold a public event with interactive demos, telescopes, food trucks and science-themed tunes from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the main mall south of the UT Tower.
The McDonald Observatory will be in Midland for the solar eclipse Oct. 14.
Staff will have solar eclipse-related activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Blakemore Planetarium at the Museum of the Southwest, 1705 W Missouri Ave, Midland. Participants will receive free eclipse viewers. Telescopes will be set up for solar viewing; the planetarium will have a livestream.
The event will include talks by retired NASA astronaut John Herrington and kid-friendly activities provided by McDonald Observatory, NuMinds Enrichment and Texas Tech's Department of Physics and Astronomy.
All eclipse activities and talks will be free. More information: www.museumsw.org/event-details/eclipse-day.
Inspired by Science will have a free Solar Eclipse Watch Party from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 14 at the National Cave & Karst Research Institute, 401-1 Cascades Ave. in Carlsbad.
A telescope will be specially fitted with a solar filter for safe viewing up close. There will also be approved eclipse viewers to take home. Take the kids to build a solar car and see how the eclipse affects it. Supplies are limited.
Community educational tables with some additional activities will be there. Food trucks will be on site. Information: inspiredbyscience.org
US 70 closure for Solar Eclipse
White Sands Missile Range supports three research rockets to capture scientific data on the solar eclipse. US 70 is planned to be closed from 9:35 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Oct. 14.
This block will be located at Blue Block (2 miles east of the WSMR access road — mile marker 172) and Yellow Block (located near White Sands National Park, mile marker 200), reports the New Mexico Department of Transportation District Two office (NMDOT) along with White Sands Missile Range.
For updates: call WSMR at 575-678-2221/2222 or go to www.nmroads.com
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Sources: www.astronomy.com, www.mcdonaldobservatory.org
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Solar eclipse 2023: where to see in Texas; safety glasses info
