Residents of some Texas and New Mexico cities will be in the best position to view the solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, along with a second solar eclipse next year. In El Paso, people can see a partial solar eclipse.
The first, an annular eclipse, will travel from Oregon to Texas and, unable to completely cover the Sun, will circle the Moon in a spectacular ring of fire. The second eclipse will be on April 8, 2024, a total eclipse that will travel from Texas to Maine, according to mcdonaldobservatory.org.
Depending on where they live in Texas, residents will have an 80 to 100% view of the eclipse. The state sits under X of the two paths of eclipses and should enjoy clear weather on those dates.
Those who go outside to experience the eclipse may feel the air cool, almost like dusk. They can hear crickets and night birds calling.
It’s been six years and it should be exciting again. Here’s your guide to the solar eclipse on Saturday, October 14.
When is the next solar eclipse?
The eclipse will begin at 9:15 AM MT, reach maximum at 10:39 AM and end at 12:14 PM.
What happens when you watch a solar eclipse?
During a partial or annular solar eclipse like the one on Oct. 14, it’s safe to look directly at the sun without using adequate eye protection.
Adequate eye protection includes eclipse glasses and viewers. Make sure they meet the international standard for eye protection (ISO 12312-2), are certified and free of scratches or other defects. Welding Goggles: No. 13 or 14 welding goggles provide protection and vision.
Viewing a solar eclipse without eye protection can cause blindness. You may lose your vision temporarily or permanently. Regular sunglasses are not a good substitute.
How to watch the solar eclipse safely
Walmart stores and Home Depot carry cardboard solar eclipse glasses. Amazon sells a wide variety of eclipse glasses. A pack of 10 Soluna certified glasses costs $19.99.
Make sure you buy solar filters that are built to the international standard for eye protection (ISO 12312-2).
Do not use sunglasses or cameras to view the solar eclipse. And be sure to wear your solar eclipse glasses over your prescribed lenses when viewing the eclipse.
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Where to get the best view of the eclipse?
El Pasoans and Juárez residents will be able to see a partial solar eclipse, with about 84% of the sun covered and Las Cruces at 85.7%. According to experts at MacDonald Observatory, Carlsbad residents will be able to see 89.8% of the obscured solar eclipse.
During an annular eclipse, even though you are right in the center of the path (indicating that the Moon and Sun are so aligned that the Moon appears centered within the Sun), about 10% of the Sun will shine around the Moon. That means that in places like Midland on that central line, 89.8% of the Sun will be covered and 10.1% will see an annular eclipse where the Sun shines as a “ring of fire” around the Moon.
In Texas, the best cities to see 100% of the eclipse are San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Midland-Odessa. In New Mexico, the best cities to view the solar eclipse are Carlsbad, Roswell, Albuquerque and Gallup. To see what other cities are seeing, Click here.
What happens during a solar eclipse?
As the Moon orbits the Earth, it sometimes moves between the Sun and the Earth. In doing so, the Moon casts a shadow on Earth that partially or completely blocks sunlight in certain areas. It is a solar eclipse.
Scientists say we can experience a solar eclipse because of an incredible astronomical coincidence – the apparent sizes of the Sun and Moon are the same as seen from Earth. This is because, although the Sun is about 400 times larger in diameter than the Moon, the Moon is also 400 times closer to us than the Sun.
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Get free eclipse glasses at El Paso libraries
El Paso Public Libraries will offer free eclipse glasses to skywatchers starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at all library branches.
Branch library staff will provide the family with a pair of glasses. Additionally, some library branches will offer free story time, crafts and eclipse-related programming.
For more information, visit www.ElPasoLibrary.org.
Solar eclipse activities in Midland, Austin, Fort Davis and Carlsbad
Although only a partial solar eclipse was visible at Fort Davis, the McDonald Observatory at its Frank N. Bash will host eclipse activities at the Visitors Center. The Visitor Center will open at 10 a.m. during the eclipse.
In Austin, the University of Texas will host a public event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the main mall south of the UT Tower with interactive demos, telescopes, food trucks and science-themed tunes.
Macdonald Observatory will be in Midland for the solar eclipse on October 14th.
Staff will conduct eclipse-related activities in the Blakemore Planetarium at the Museum of the Southwest, 1705 W Missouri Ave, Midland, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will receive a free eclipse viewer. Telescopes will be set up to look at sunlight; There will be a live broadcast at the planetarium.
The event will include talks by retired NASA astronaut John Herrington and kid-friendly activities hosted by McDonald Observatory, NuMinds Enrichment and Texas Tech’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
All eclipse activities and talks are free. More information: www.museumsw.org/event-details/eclipse-day.
Inspired by science, a free solar eclipse party will be held at the National Cave & Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad, 401-1 Cascades Ave., from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
A telescope is specially equipped with a solar filter. There will also be authorized people to take eclipse visitors home. Take the kids to build a solar car and see how the eclipse affects them. Supplies are limited.
There will be community education tables with some additional activities. Food trucks will be on site. Information: inspiredbyscience.org
US 70 closure for solar eclipse
The White Sands launch pad supports three research rockets to capture scientific data about the solar eclipse. US 70 is scheduled to be closed from 9:35 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Oct. 14.
The block will be located on the Blue Block (2 miles east of the WSMR Access Road – Mile Marker 172) and the Yellow Block (located near White Sands National Park, Mile Marker 200), according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation District Office (NMDOT). ) with white sand missile range.
For updates: Call WSMR at 575-678-2221/2222 or visit www.nmroads.com
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Sources: www.astronomy.com, www.mcdonaldobservatory.org
Maria Cortes Gonzalez can be reached at 915-546-6150There is
