One of the most spectacular natural events will be coming to Central Texas exactly one year from today. A total solar eclipse will cross Texas on April 8, 2024. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon, in its orbit around the earth, passes directly in front of the sun. The moon is much smaller than the sun, of course, but the sun is much farther away, and the two appear to be the same size to us on the earth. So when the moon passes in front of the sun, it blocks out the sun perfectly.
The shadow of the sun will cross Texas from southwest to northeast on April 8, 2024. The entire state will see some blockage of the sun, but the path of totality (where the moon obscures 100% of the sun) will be about 120-miles wide. The eclipse will look like the picture above. We will just miss that path in Brownwood. The totality will stretch from about Zephyr to Austin. Here is a map of the path of totality:
But still in Brownwood the sun will be obscured more than 99%. It will probably look something like this:
Texas cities such as Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Lampasas, and Gatesville will be right on the centerline of the eclipse, and will experience about 4 minutes and 24 seconds of midday darkness. The total eclipse event (from when the moon first begins to cover the sun, until it finally passes by) will last over two hours.
This writer travelled to Missouri in 2017 to witness the last total eclipse in the United States, and I can tell you, it is an amazing event and you do not want to miss it. While a total eclipse occurs somewhere on earth about once every 18 months, they hit any one particular location on earth only about once every 375 years, on average. Very few people get to witness a total solar eclipse in their life, so we are lucky to have this opportunity in 2024.
The eclipse will be a great educational opportunity for our area schools, colleges, and universities. It also has great promotional and commercial potential for our communities.
In a bit of luck, we will actually get a “dress rehearsal” eclipse about six months earlier. On October 14, 2023, an “annular solar eclipse” will cross Texas from northwest to southeast. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is a little farther away from the earth in its orbit making its apparent size slightly smaller. Thus it does not quite cover the sun totally, and a “ring of fire” is visible around the edge of the moon. Still, it will be a spectacular event. Here is a map of the path of the annular eclipse:
And the annular eclipse will look something like this:
Brownwood will experience about 90% coverage in the annular eclipse.
Make your plans now to witness these two spectacular events. Certainly you don’t want your children to miss them. Special eclipse glasses must be worn to avoid damage to your eyes. More information on these two eclipses can be found at: greatamericaneclipse.com