Crown of Wonder: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Part 1: Why the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is Much Anticipated
Introduction
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will shadow the Eastern United States, presenting the last chance until 2044 to experience such a spectacle in the U.S. An estimated 4 million people are expected to converge on the approximately 115-mile wide path of totality, according to Michael Zeiler, an professional eclipse cartographer. To prevent the chaos experienced during the 2017 eclipse, which resulted in an 18-hour nationwide traffic gridlock, all or parts of states stretching from Texas to Maine have declared states of emergency and issued advisories for residents to prepare for disruptions in services.
This has lead some people to craft various conspiracies and End Times predictions. While many are reluctant to fall victim to these speculations, the record low trust in nearly all public institutions as well as the perception of an increasingly chaotic world, has led many to fill ill-at-ease.
I’ve anticipated the 2024 solar eclipse since 2017. Few events stir in me such genuine excitement and wonder. My aim is to share with you the sheer awe that this celestial spectacle inspires. This eclipse isn’t just an astronomical event; it’s a rare natural marvel that commands attention and elicits deep reflection.
In this article, I will delve into what makes the 2024 solar eclipse so captivating and worthy of our collective anticipation. In a second article, we'll explore the swirl of conspiracies and End Times predictions through a biblical lens, reminding us that amidst the uncertainty of our times, Jesus Christ is King and Sovereign, even over the heavens. With such a King, what do we have to fear?
Not Just Another Solar Eclipse
The April 2024 total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, even if it remains a natural and predictable phenomenon. Last century, there were only 71 total solar eclipses worldwide. A small number of those eclipses were visible by humans, as 70 percent of the earth is covered by oceans. Therefore, it’s rare for humans to experience a total solar eclipse. Emphasis, of course, on total solar eclipse, as solar eclipses as a whole are fairly commonplace. Understanding how the 2024 April Total Solar Eclipse stands out from previous eclipses will help provide context for the excitement around it.
Solar Cycle: Maximum
The sun goes through periods of decreased and increased activity, the valleys and peaks dubbed as solar minimums and solar maximums by astronomers. The 2017 total solar eclipse occurred during a solar minimum. The 2024 total solar eclipse will occur during a solar maximum. Observers of the eclipse may have an opportunity to observe dramatic solar phenomena, like solar streamers, prominences, and even corona mass ejections, otherwise obscured by the suns blinding radiance, Abbey Interrante wrote, in an article on the 2024 eclipse for NASA. When you get the chance, checkout her article, it has some great information and beautiful pictures of the sun.
Double Wide: Path of Totality
The path of totality will be almost twice the width of 2017’s shadow, ranging from 108 to 122 miles wide. This means 31.6 million people will be living within the path of totality, nearly 20 million more than 2017’s 12 million. Not only that, but 2024’s path of totality will pass through one of the most heavily populated areas of the country. Nearly half of the country’s population will be in or within 200 miles of the path, a simple day trip for most, though don’t expect to get home quickly (as we alluded to in the introduction.) The 1979 path of totality had an even smaller audience, clipping a narrow portion of the pacific northwest, a path similar to what 2044’s eclipse will follow.
All of this said, even if you don’t live near the path of totality and can’t manage to make it out there, “Every contiguous U.S. state, plus parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will experience at least a partial solar eclipse,” Interrante assures readers.
Long Haul: Duration
Not only does the 2024 eclipse have the potential to be a bigger spectacle and have a larger audience, but it will also have a duration longer than either two of the previous US solar eclipses — August 2017 and February 1979. The maximum duration in the United States will be over four minutes, almost two minutes longer than 2017’s maximum. Even if you’re in the extreme far end of the path in Canada where the shortest durations will occur, observers will still experience 40 more seconds of totality than the maximum of either of the previous two total eclipses.
View With Safety
If you plan to view the solar eclipse, it’s important to view the solar eclipse safely. Unintuitively, even when the sun is blocked by the moon, there is still enough light and radiation to cause permanent eye damage. As of writing, Amazon still has many solar eclipse glasses in-stock and even with 1-day shipping available. Make sure you do your research, as there are some knockoffs. This article from The Planetary Society has a guide to picking out safe solar eclipse glasses.
In addition to having a pair of solar eclipse glasses, the following tips will help keep you and others safe:
If Driving:
Turn on your headlights.
Do not take pictures while driving.
Do not pull off on the side of roadways to observe the eclipse.
Instead, find a safe and legal parking spot
Plan ahead:
The time of the solar eclipse is known down to the second depending on the location.
Visit The Great American Eclipse to check your area’s time.
If traveling to see the eclipse:
Bring food and water
Plan to come a day before and leave the day after
If you have medications, bring them with you
Avoid large gatherings of people
Be aware of your surroundings and the areas you’re visiting
Time To Enjoy
Depending on your location, this could be an excellent opportunity to spend with friends, family, or even to share gospel tracts. Over the past few years, we’ve had many opportunities to unite over bad experiences, but now, we have an opportunity to unite over what will be a glorious beautiful event which we can talk about for decades to come.
Now That We’re Grounded
As we ready ourselves for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, it’s not just an astronomical event we anticipate, but a moment that bridges past and present, heaven and earth. Eclipses, historically seen as signs—ominous or auspicious—prompt a mix of fear, wonder, and speculation. Yet, as Christians, we are reminded even when the sun is obscured at midday, it does so in obedience to its Sovereign Creator.
This celestial phenomenon, rather than heralding doom, serves as a barometer of our society’s collective mental and spiritual state. Our next article (which you can now read here) will delve into how the 2024 eclipse has become a focal point for various speculations, including states of emergency, advisories for stockpiling necessities, and concerns over infrastructure resilience.
By examining these responses in the context of both current events and timeless truths, we can approach the eclipse with a balanced perspective with wisdom, faith, and understanding. This blend of awe for the heavens and discernment about earthly concerns underscores that amidst the tumult of our times, Jesus Christ is still King, and even the heavens obey His command.
18 She is a tree of life to those who seize her, And all those who hold her fast are blessed.
19 Yahweh by wisdom founded the earth, By discernment He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were split up And the skies drip with dew.
