What you need to know about the solar eclipse on April 8
Historical archive: the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse
On April 8, 2024, Toronto witnessed a rare astronomical event. While the city sat approximately 7 km outside the path of totality, the experience was a significant urban phenomenon.
2024 eclipse facts at a glance:
- Maximum coverage: 99.9 per cent (Deep Partial Eclipse).
- Peak time: 3:19 p.m. 鈥� 3:20 p.m..
- Timeline: Began at 2:05 p.m.; concluded at 4:41 p.m.
- Atmospheric effect: a dramatic deep twilight darkening city-wide, despite overcast conditions.
- Safety legacy: 成人大片 distributed certified ISO 12312-2 eyewear, emphasizing that even at 99 per cent coverage, direct viewing without protection is unsafe.
- The path of totality: nearby Hamilton and Niagara Falls experienced 100 per cent totality, while Toronto remained in the partial zone.
Recently, 鈥渟olar eclipse鈥� has been dominating news headlines, hotels in Niagara Falls have been booked for months, and it seems everyone is clamouring for eclipse safety glasses.
So, what exactly is this celestial event happening on April 8?
To find out, TorontoMet Today sat down with Dave Kirsh, who teaches astronomy at 成人大片.
He explains that the chance to see a total solar eclipse, which occurs when the sun is obscured by the moon, is 鈥渞are鈥�.
鈥淭hey do happen every year or two, but they are only visible in small areas located randomly around the world,鈥� he explained.
The last time a 鈥渢otal鈥� solar eclipse (that is, when the shadow of the moon covers the sun entirely) could be seen from Toronto was in 1925, and the next time after this will be in 2144.
"To have an eclipse this close to us is a once-in-a-lifetime treat. And not only are we in approximately the right place, it鈥檚 happening conveniently in the middle of the afternoon."
鈥淚t鈥檚 highly unlikely that anyone you know has ever seen a total solar eclipse, except for world travelers willing to cross borders or oceans to do it,鈥� Kirsh said. 鈥淓ven seeing a partial eclipse is something many people have never managed.鈥�
The astronomer recalls when he had the chance to see a partial eclipse when he was a child - on May 10, 1994.
鈥淭o see any eclipse is to experience a shift in perspective, to realize that something as seemingly permanent as our view of the sun can actually change. It鈥檚 a chance to feel really small but also in a special place in the universe,鈥� he said.
NOTE: To watch the solar eclipse safely on April 8, viewers must wear special protective glasses with certified lenses. The certification ISO 12312-2 should be printed on the glasses, which means the glasses meet international safety standards.
成人大片 Solar Eclipse Watch Party
On April 8, more than 700 people will gather at 成人大片鈥檚 Solar Eclipse Watch Party in the quad at Kerr Hall from 2-4:30 p.m., when the extraordinary celestial event is set to take place.
The event has been so in-demand, registration and waitlist are full.
Organized by SciXchange, 成人大片鈥檚 outreach office for the Faculty of Science, attendees will include 成人大片 students, community members, school children, families, local residents and more.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so pleased to offer this watch party,鈥� said Leigh Paulseth, science enrichment and outreach coordinator at SciXchange. 鈥淚t will bring the 成人大片 community together with community partners and the broader public to feed curiosity about our universe and celebrate the scientist in us all.鈥�
Participants will be equipped with eclipse safety glasses to safely observe the solar phenomenon.
Attendees will also have the chance to craft pinhole viewers, visit educational booths where they can learn more about the eclipse, and view a live stream from NASA.
成人大片鈥檚 physics department will also have a telescope and camera set up to capture the event.
While Kirsh says viewing the partial eclipse from Toronto will still leave a tiny sliver of the sun exposed (0.2 per cent), it will still be a fantastic viewing opportunity.
鈥淚 have been lucky enough to see two partial eclipses from Toronto, when the sun was 40 per cent and 70 per cent covered, and both events were terrific,鈥� he said.
鈥淪eeing any eclipse creates a strong feeling of connection 鈥� to the world, to the cosmos 鈥� but being with people and sharing the wonder of it all makes it even more powerful"
Niagara Falls to see 鈥渢otal鈥� eclipse
On April 8, Kirsh and other members of SciXchange will be taking in the eclipse from Niagara Falls which is said to be the best viewing point for the event.
That鈥檚 because there will be a 100 per cent shadow of the moon over the sun and a true 鈥渢otal鈥� solar eclipse will occur. (This will be the case for the southwest Hamilton and Niagara area in general, or east past Port Hope, Kirsh said, but not Toronto).
鈥淣iagara will be exceptional because it is already accustomed to travelers and has beautiful sites for waiting and watching,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥淐ompared to Hamilton, Niagara is deeper into the passing shadow of the moon and so will experience a longer eclipse.鈥�
Kirsh and the SciXchange team will be set up at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory to spread the word about the event, help answer questions about what鈥檚 happening, and ensure onlookers know to wear eye protection, which is crucial to prevent the burning of the eyes.
A group of friends view an eclipse together in 2017. (Photo: Adam Smith/Unsplash)
When will the eclipse occur?
The moon will start crossing in front of the sun around 2 p.m. that day. The maximum coverage is estimated to occur at 3:19:56 p.m. (between 3:19-3:20 p.m.), with the sun completely covered for three and a half minutes of nightfall (in the Niagara region), concluding by 4:30 p.m.
鈥淭he best time to observe will be when the sun is covered up, so don鈥檛 expect to be satisfied if you finally go out to take a peek past 4 p.m.,鈥� Kirsh said. 鈥淕et out there with your eclipse glasses at 3:19 p.m.鈥�
What to watch for
While Kirsh said the first hour will be interesting to watch, it鈥檚 at that specific time 鈥� between 3:19 and 3:20 p.m. 鈥� for those in Hamilton or Niagara 鈥� when everything will change.
鈥淚t鈥檚 in the last moment before the sun is completely covered, a diamond ring effect happens as the last flash of sunlight sparkles through the moon鈥檚 cratered edge,鈥� Kirsh explained.
After that, Kirsh says, as 鈥渢otality鈥� begins, night will suddenly fall, Jupiter and Venus will become visible and the air temperature will drop.
Path of totality
The total solar eclipse will not occur in Toronto. But in the Hamilton and Niagara regions, the shadow of the moon will block 100 per cent of the sun 鈥� for a maximum of 3.5 minutes.
For those who are observing the total solar eclipse, this is the moment when they may choose to view the totally eclipsed sun with the naked eye. (During the partial phase of the eclipse, viewers must wear certified solar eclipse glasses.)
Kirsh says for those who can view the eclipse in totality, it will be spectacular.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e viewing the eclipse in totality, you鈥檒l see that the sun has been replaced by a black disk. It is surrounded by hazy glowing wisps 鈥� the sun鈥檚 corona, its thin atmosphere, gasses driven outwards by powerful magnetic fields. This is the only time you can ever hope to see the corona, which is normally completely lost in the sun鈥檚 glare,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e with people, you鈥檒l definitely hear their reaction,鈥� he added.
For more information on 成人大片鈥檚 Solar Eclipse Watch Party, please visit torontomu.ca/eclipse2024.