As the April 8 total solar eclipse approaches, many skygazers are eagerly piecing together their skygazing plans. For some, this means grabbing a pair of ISO 12312-2-compliant solar eclipse viewers and setting up in the backyard. For others, a special trip is in order: One that will take them from the 60% coverage zone to one of totality. While the latter might not be practical for every skygazer, experts argue that going out of your way for this eclipse could be worth it, especially if totality can be found just across town.
In an interview with NPR Friday, several astronomers emphasized the difference between a partial solar eclipse and a total one. Even a 1% difference can dramatically change the eclipse-viewing experience.
“Even at 99%, it gets no more dark than on a sort of typical overcast day," said Rick Fienberg of the American Astronomical Society's solar eclipse task force. "If you get right up to the path, but don't go that last, you know, a few hundred yards into it, you're going to have a very, very deep partial eclipse. It will definitely get noticeably dark, but not near as dark as it will get at 100%. And you will not see the solar corona."
The corona is perhaps the most coveted element of any total solar eclipse. This outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere takes on a wispy appearance during totality, enabling skygazers with the right equipment to capture images like the one above. While the corona can’t easily be seen on a typical day thanks to the Sun’s blinding light, a total eclipse offers a rare opportunity to see it in all its glowing glory.
But if the eclipse you’re viewing is only partial, the light that seeps from the uncovered edge of the Sun will prevent you from getting a good look at the corona. And that’s with proper eye protection, which you should never look at a solar eclipse without. The good news is that for some people, getting into the path of totality will require a relatively short trip—no fancy flight required.
Driving from Chicago to Indianapolis takes just under three hours, while driving from Houston to Austin should take two and a half. Those in Pittsburgh will find an undoubtedly captivating scene above Lake Erie after a two-hour drive, while skygazers in Columbus need only drive an hour to get to Mansfield, where coverage will hit 100%. Even folks in Oklahoma City, Nashville, Charleston, and Albany will be able to find totality within just a few hours, while those in Denver, Atlanta, and New York City will need about a day’s worth of driving.
"It's 100% or nothing," Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist, told NPR. "There's such a radical, dramatic difference between a 99% partial and a 100% total. There's no comparison."
This doesn’t mean the April 8 eclipse isn’t worth viewing from outside the path of totality, though. With the proper eye protection—or a DIY pinhole viewer—even a partial eclipse creates the type of skygazing experience you simply don’t get every day. And as with last year’s annular event, next month’s eclipse will produce stunning “eclipse shadows” anywhere trees, screens, or reflective surfaces can be found.
