Looking Ahead by Looking Back

We are one month from the next total solar eclipse visible from the United States. Let’s look ahead by looking back at the annular eclipse from October 2023.

Looking Ahead – April 2024

To determine what you can see for this upcoming solar eclipse, use the eclipse calculators on timeanddate.com. For those of us who live in San Diego, we will be able to see a partial eclipse, with about 55% of the Sun covered by the Moon.

If you live along the path of totality, I hope you’ll have a chance to witness this event. We’ll have to wait until the 2040s for another solar eclipse in the contiguous United States. Lots of great info here.

If you’re in San Diego, please hang out at the Fleet Science Center for a special Demo Day on March 16. Museum staff will teach you how to safely observe the upcoming eclipse.

Looking Back – October 2023

Last October’s eclipse made me even more excited for the one next month. Thousands joined us at the Fleet Science Center and bravely waited out the marine layer, catching tantalizing glimpses of a partially eclipsed Sun through the clouds.

And our patience paid off! Just moments before totality, the skies cleared, and we had a lovely view of a partially eclipsed Sun.

The October eclipse was deeper for us in San Diego than the April one will be (70% vs 55%). I was delighted so many people turned out to observe the Sun and learn more about the science of eclipses. It also served as a reminder that cloudy weather does not necessarily ruin an eclipse. This is particularly important for April 8, because the path of totality passes through areas with statistically high probabilities of clouds on that date.  

Wishing you clear skies! (Or thin clouds work, too!)

If you’re interested in learning more about eclipses, check out this page: https://lisawillspace.com/category/events/upcoming-eclipses/