People from all over the country will travel to central Ohio and Indiana this April to witness the total solar eclipse. Parts of Liberty Township will be front row to the breathtaking phenomenon, where the moon will completely cover the sun for up to four minutes.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, moon and sun perfectly align, and the moon's shadow crosses the face of the Earth, according to the Cincinnati Astronomical Society. When a location is in the path of partial totality, the sun is partially obscured by the moon which can cause the daylight in the area to dim. However, when a location is in the path of full totality, the moon completely obscures the sun, which allows observers to see stars and planets during the daytime, among other phenomena.
Bryan Simpson, president of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society, says that while parts of Cincinnati and southern Ohio, including Butler County, will experience partial totality, residents should make the effort to view the phenomenon in the complete path of totality for the full eclipse experience.
NASA predicts surrounding counties—including parts of Preble, Montgomery, Miami and Clark counties—will also be in the path of full totality. Parts of nearby Darke, Shelby, Auglaize and Hardin counties are in the eclipse's centerline, where the eclipse will last the longest.
“There really are no degrees in between the great and the not-too-great—it is literally a night and day experience,” Simpson says. “It’s a bizarre, sort of otherworldly feeling.”
Simpson says that even when a location experiences 99.9% of totality, the sun is still 10,000 times brighter than it is in the path of full totality. When in the path of full totality, he says observers can see stars, planets and solar flares. They will also see a bright burst of light, called the diamond ring effect, signaling the end of totality.
“You can see the corona of the sun, which looks like these large sweeping arms of light that branch out from the sun,” Simpson says. “It’s an amazing experience at the moment of totality, where the sun finally gets completely obscured by the moon and those long-reaching arms seem to sprout out of the sun instantaneously.”
Experts say those watching the eclipse should wear special glasses that stop UV light to protect their eyes. People should wear these glasses up until the moment the sun is fully eclipsed. Even when it is partially eclipsed, looking directly at the sun can damage viewers’ eyes.
“The inside of your eye—your retina—doesn’t have pain receptors like the rest of your body,” Simpson says. “If you’re absorbing too much of that ultraviolet light, you can actually burn the inside of your eye without knowing it.”
To check if your glasses have the proper level of protection, look at the ISO number, which should say “ISO 12312-2” or “ISO 12312-2:2015.”
Simpson encourages nearby residents to take full advantage of this viewing opportunity, especially because the next time an eclipse like this will occur in the U.S. will be in 2045, but you would have to travel to the deep South to view it. The next time the path of totality for an eclipse will cross Ohio will be in 2099.
“Totality is totally worth it,” Simpson says. “These events are very rare and I want to encourage people to make the effort, especially since the path of totality is so close to our area.”
For more information on this unique celestial event, visit the Cincinnati Astronomical Society’s website to read their educational eclipse guide.
The Cincinnati Astronomical Society | CinAstro.org
Local Eclipse Events in the Path of Totality–April 8
Mounds, Moon + Stars Exhibition
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park + Museum
Enjoy art, crafts, games, eclipse-themed beverages and more. Tickets include park admission, glasses, craft supplies + parking.
2024 Total Eclipse of the Farm
Niederman Farm
Tickets include admission to the farm and its activities from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., viewing glasses + a raffle ticket. Bring chairs + blankets.
There Goes the Sun Watch Party
Forest Run MetroPark, Kestrel Shelter
MetroParks’ eclipse watch party goes from 2-4 p.m. and is open to all ages. Register online to reserve your pair of viewing glasses.
For additional event listings in Butler County visit TravelButlerCounty.com/things-to-do/2024-total-solar-eclipse.
