Come April 8, 2024, folks in Missouri and Illinois will get a chance to see something pretty amazing, a total solar eclipse. This is when the moon gets between Earth and the sun and totally blocks out the sun for a while. Some lucky spots will get to see “totality” which means the moon completely covers up the sun.
Where’s the Best Spot?
This next eclipse is going across 13 states, but if you’re in southeast Missouri or southern Illinois, you’re in for a treat. Imagine it turning nighttime at noon with colors like sunrise or sunset hanging around for four or five minutes that’s what these places are going to see.
Downright Dark in Missouri
In Missouri, many cities are getting ready to show some of the longest total eclipses in the state. You’ll be able to see the extended blackout in these places,
Doniphan, In Ripley County, darkness will hit at 1,55,28 p.m. and it’ll last for 4 minutes and 12 seconds.
Poplar Bluff, here, you can witness totality for 4 minutes and 8 seconds starting at 1,56,21 p.m.
Cape Girardeau, get ready for a 4minute and 6second event beginning at 1,58,22 p.m.
Also, towns like West Plains, Van Buren, and Sikeston offer over three minutes of totality. So, it’s clear that Missouri is going to be a hot spot for those chasing the eclipse.
Illinois: The Crossroads of the Eclipse
In Illinois, especially down south, its known as America’s intersection for eclipses. A bunch of cities there will have excellent views of the eclipse,
Alto Pass, Union County is expecting to get darkness lasting just over 4 minutes.
At 1,58,57 p.m., there will be just about 4 minutes and 9 seconds of complete darkness.
Makanda and Carbondale, both found in Jackson County. They’ll go dark for 4 minutes and 8 seconds, starting at 1,59,10 p.m. and 1,59,16 p.m., each.
Marion, People here will experience a full eclipse lasting 4 minutes and 7 seconds, starting at exactly 1,59,44 p.m.
Small towns such as Murphysboro, Benton, and Mount Carmel are set to enjoy more than four minutes of total eclipse too, putting southern Illinois on the map as an ideal spot for this astronomical event.
Safe Viewing Practices
The thrill of watching a total solar eclipse is something many folks look forward to but remember. It’s important to protect your eyes while you do it. You can safely gaze at the sun with the naked eye only during the brief phase when the moon fully covers it (totality). On the other hand? Never stare at a partially eclipsed sun without wearing special glasses or using an appropriate solar viewer. Doing so can seriously hurt your eyes. Make sure you’ve got proper eclipse eyewear for those times before totality kicks in.
Preparing for the Eclipse If you want to see the full eclipse in Missouri and Illinois, where it’ll happen from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. CT, you got to plan ahead. The weather and your spot for watching are super important if you want a clear view.
Beyond the Eclipse
What to Expect The solar eclipse coming up in 2024 is going to be awesome it’s not just about the sun hiding behind the moon, but also about people coming together and feeling amazed. Tons of folks will head to spots where they can see it completely, and places are getting ready for all these visitors. For example, in Missouri, even the Highway Patrol is giving out tips to make sure everyone has fun and stays safe.
Seeing the sky go dark because of an eclipse is pretty cool, but it’s also like a giant sign that shows how epic our universe is and makes us think about our own little spot in it. The Moon’s shadow will zoom across Missouri crazy fast – we’re talking 1,813 miles per hour!
The solar eclipse in 2024 will cast a shadow about 110 miles wide. Everyone in that shadow is going to have the chance to see something amazing that doesn’t happen often.
Looking Forward
Once the 2024 eclipse is over, we won’t see another total solar eclipse in the US until August 12, 2045. This long wait really shows how unique and important the next eclipse will be, so if you can, you definitely should try to see it.
The closer we get to April 8, 2024, the more people are getting pumped for what’s likely going to be an incredible show by nature. It doesn’t matter if this is your first time watching an eclipse or if you’ve chased them before. seeing a total solar eclipse is an experience that brings everyone together to just stop and be amazed by the world above us.
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