Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024

• FedEx box
• White index card
• Aluminum foil square 3” x 5”
• Tape
• Scissors and/or knife

https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/snacks/eclipse-in-a-cup 

• 3 clear cups
• Clay
• Push pin
• Markers
• Scissors
• Flashlight 

https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/snacks/eclipse-to-scale

• Ping pong ball 1½” dia 
• String
• Bead ⅜” dia
• Toothpick
• Ruler
• Tape
• pencil

• Coat hanger
• Foam ball
• Pvc pipe 6” x ½” dia 
• Wire cutter and/or pliers

• Solar glasses
• Black paper plate
• Silver tinsel fringe
• Red pipe cleaner
• Hot glue and/or tape
• Elastic thread
• Silver magic marker
• Scissors and/or knife

The eclipse begins at First Contact, the moment the moon first “touches” the edge of the solar disk, approaching it from the right.  The moon, invisible until now in the daytime sky, becomes visible as a black disk blocking the Sun. 

approximately

1:52-3:05 PM

For the next hour and fifteen minutes, the moon slowly covers a larger and larger part of the Sun.

approximately 3:05-3:06 PM

The moon completely covers the Sun.  On the moon’s leading edge, the last slice of light shines through lunar valleys, breaking up into a chain of bright “pearls” called Baily’s beads.

Then in the final seconds before the moon completely covers the Sun, there is a last bright flash, joined with a view of the corona – the Sun’s upper atmosphere – encircling the moon.  This produces a spectacular effect called the diamond ring.  After the diamond ring disappears, you have a couple of seconds to notice another layer of the Sun, the red-colored chromosphere, before it is also eclipsed. 

3:06:10- 3:09:45 PM

The Sun is now completely hidden, revealing the full solar corona.  This stage of a total solar eclipse, Totality, is the only time we on Earth can see the corona, which streams out into space above the Sun’s surface.  Normally, the corona’s light is outshone by the bright photosphere.  You may see bright pink spots at the Sun’s edge.  These are gigantic loops of plasma that rise from the Sun’s surface, called prominences.  Their beautiful color is glowing hydrogen gas.   

During totality is the only time you can safely look at the Sun with your naked eye.  If you look away for a few moments you will notice that the sky has become dark, as if it’s twilight and other stars and planets are visible.  If you look out toward the horizon, it is also possible to see light from outside of the shadow you are standing in, like a 360-degree sunset.

approximately 3:10-3:11 PM

Totality ends at Third Contact, as the leading edge of the moon begins to move off the Sun.  Once again, on the opposite side of the moon, the last light of the photosphere shines through mountains and valleys, creating Baily’s beads.  At Totality’s end, resume using safe viewing techniques.

If you look at the ground just before the Second contact and right after the Third contact you may see shadow bands marching across the landscape.  

Sunlight is restored moments after Third Contact, the Sun reemerges in a burst of light, creating a second diamond ring on the opposite side of the Sun.  As the moon reveals more of the Sun, the corona quickly fades from view in the brightness of the newly restored photosphere

approximately

3:10-4:23 PM

For the next hour and fifteen minutes, the moon slowly moves away from covering the Sun.

4:24 PM 

The eclipse is now nearly over.  Fourth Contact, when the outer edge of the moon last touches the Sun, marks its end.  From First Contact to this moment takes about two and a half hours.