Second-grade students at Pleasant Crossing Elementary School in Whiteland watch the partial eclipse using special eclipse glasses in 2017.
Daily Journal file photo
The celestial event of the decade is nearly here for Johnson County.
Much of central and southern Indiana is along the path of totality for Monday’s total solar eclipse. A partial eclipse will take place from 1:50 to 4:23 p.m., with totality being from approximately 3:05:52 to 3:09:54 p.m. in the Franklin area, which is among the top viewing spots for the eclipse as it has one of the longest periods of totality at 4 minutes and 2 seconds.
Undoubtedly there are still some questions residents, and visitors, may have about the phenomena. Here’s a look at some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Q: What is a total solar eclipse?
A: A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun’s light in some areas. This only happens occasionally as the moon does not orbit in the exact same plane as the sun and Earth do, according to NASA.
People located in the center of the moon’s shadow when it hits Earth will experience a total solar eclipse, which is where the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Depending on the weather, people in the path of a total solar eclipse can see the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun.
Q: What makes this eclipse different from 2017?
A: Monday’s eclipse is different from what occurred on Aug. 21, 2017, for a few reasons.
The path of totality is much wider during the upcoming total solar eclipse than it was during in 2017. This means this eclipse covers more ground, according to NASA.
The 2024 eclipse path will pass over more cities and densely populated areas than the 2017 path, making it easier for more people to see totality. An estimated 31.6 million people live in the path of totality this year, compared to 12 million in 2017. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality, NASA scientists say.
Third, totality will last longer than it did in 2017. Seven years ago, the longest period of totality was experienced near Carbondale, Illinois, at 2 minutes, 42 seconds. For the upcoming eclipse, totality will last up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds, in an area about 25 minutes northwest of Torreón, Mexico, scientists say.
There will also be heightened solar activity and more scientific research of this eclipse compared to 2017, according to NASA.
Q: Why are eclipse glasses needed to view it?
A: Looking at the eclipse with the naked eye can cause damage to the retina.
The sun is usually so bright that people can’t physically stand to look at it. An eclipse cuts down on this brightness, but doesn’t stop solar radiation that can cause major vision damage, experts say.
“We don’t ever, ever want to look directly at the sun. It will harm our eyes and can cause permanent damage,” said Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.
Eclipse glasses are made with special lenses that block a majority of harmful rays from the sun, allowing people to look directly at the sun. Viewed through the lens, the sun appears more like a full moon, according to the American Astronomical Society, or AAS.
The only time it’s safe to take off the glasses and look up at the sun is when the eclipse has reached totality, which only lasts for a few minutes.
Q: Where can I get eclipse glasses?
A: Glasses are available for purchase at a variety of stores in Johnson County. However, Festival Country Indiana is offering them for free at their visitors center, 66 S. Water St., Franklin. Several events across the county will also have glasses available.
People should have eclipse glasses that meet the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 standard. People should watch for glasses that are fakes. Here’s a list of reputable manufacturers and retailers compiled by the AAS eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.
Q: How will it affect animals?
A: Based on published accounts, researchers often see animals start nocturnal, or nighttime, behaviors during eclipses. For example, crickets start chirping, bats start emerging or birds go on to roost, said Dr. Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist in the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.
Using weather radar data from the 2017 eclipse, researchers found a decrease in the number of animals flying around during an eclipse. However, the decrease was not down to the level typically seen at sunset, Farnsworth said.
As for pets, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources recommends keeping pets at home if they have trouble with leashes. But they do note that animals, generally, don’t look directly at the sun. So pets won’t need their own pairs of eclipse glasses if they are outdoors during the solar eclipse.
Q: What if it’s cloudy Monday?
A: Even if it’s cloudy, the eclipse will still be worth watching, experts say. The sky will still get dark like its nightfall regardless of the amount of cloud coverage.
Eclipse expert Dan McGlaun, who has attended several eclipses and had several speaking engagements in the area, recounted a 2009 eclipse he attended that was rained out during a Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce event in January.
“The day is going to be what the day is going to be. Even though it wasn’t the experience wanted, it was still an amazing experience,” McGlaun said during the January event. “It got dark and it got black. The eclipse happened and you couldn’t see.”
Q: When will the next eclipse be?
A: The next solar eclipse to be visible from Johnson County will be on Jan. 26, 2028. However, residents will only be able to see a sliver of partial eclipse as the path of totality for this eclipse goes over South America into Europe, according to timeanddate.com.
The next total solar eclipse to be fully visible from the county isn’t until Oct. 17, 2153.
