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Tag: solar eclipse 2024

  • Northeast Ohio sees over $20 million economic effect from solar eclipse events

    Northeast Ohio sees over $20 million economic effect from solar eclipse events

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    CLEVELAND, Ohio — A total of $24.6 million in economic impact for Cuyahoga, Lorain and Lake counties was generated across 12 events hosted as part of the 2024 solar eclipse, according to Destination Cleveland.

    What You Need To Know

    • A total of $24.6 million in economic impact for three counties was generated across 12 events hosted as part of the 2024 solar eclipse, according to Destination Cleveland

    • In order to come up with that number, the release states that Tourism Economics, looked at “visitor spending, including money spent on hotels, meals, retail purchases and transportation”

    • They note the figure does not account for those who stayed with family or friends or smaller/less formal gatherings due to a lack of available data

    In order to come up with that number, Tourism Economics, looked at “visitor spending, including money spent on hotels, meals, retail purchases and transportation,” according to a news release.

    They also looked at data for these events:

    • Total Eclipse Fest (Great Lakes Science Center/NASA Glenn Research Center)
    • Lights Out in The Land (Lake Erie Crushers)
    • Solar Eclipse Viewing Party (Lorain County Metro Parks)
    • Eclipse Day (Cleveland Metroparks)
    • Rooftop Eclipse Party (Music Box Supper Club)
    • Avon Lake Eclipse Watch Party (City of Avon Lake)
    • Solarfest Weekend (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
    • Total on the Oval (Wade Oval)
    • Eclipse & Sips Viewing Party (Fahrenheit restaurant)
    • Solar Eclipse Party on the Runways (The Aviator)
    • Total Eclipse at Children’s Museum Cleveland (Children’s Museum of Cleveland)
    • Total Eclipse of the Park (Crocker Park)

    They note the figure does not account for those who stayed with family or friends or smaller/less formal gatherings because of a lack of available data.

    Destination Cleveland also highlighted hotel occupancy increases during the time of the eclipse compared to the previous year, which they say increased 84% in Cuyahoga County, 78% in Lake County and 82% in Lorain County.

    “These figures from Tourism Economics show that the eclipse – and the organized events related to it – drove visitation and visitor spending as anticipated,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, in the release. “Additionally, being in the path of totality put Cleveland in the national spotlight with many national news outlets choosing to broadcast or report from our area. That, combined with the excitement and impact of hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship just the day prior, has a direct and lasting impact on how people perceive Cleveland.”

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    Cody Thompson

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  • Why Your Head Hurts After the Eclipse

    Why Your Head Hurts After the Eclipse

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    If you have a headache or eye pain after viewing the solar eclipse—even if you wore eclipse glasses—you’re not alone. But don’t panic. Experts say it’s probably not a sign of serious damage.

    Looking straight at the eclipse without protective glasses can potentially cause permanent damage to your vision. It’s dangerous to look directly at an eclipse—except during the period of “totality,” when the sun is entirely covered by the moon—for the same reason it’s never a good idea to stare at the sun: its light can burn your retina, a risk that’s formally known as solar retinopathy.

    But if you suffered this kind of damage, you’d be more likely to experience visual disruptions—such as blurriness, light sensitivity, or dark spots—over the following hours, rather than eye pain. The retina doesn’t have pain nerves, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

    Headaches can be a symptom of solar retinopathy, AAO says. But in most cases, someone develops a headache because of other vision issues, rather than as a primary symptom, says Dr. Lucia Sobrin, a retina specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

    A viewer of the solar eclipse looks to the sky at Main Street Garden Park in Dallas, Texas on April 8, 2024.Jake Dockins for TIME

    Read More: How Cities Around the U.S. Are Celebrating the Eclipse

    If you have a headache without accompanying visual issues, you’re almost definitely in the clear, particularly if you wore protective glasses as directed, says Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Most likely, he says, you’re experiencing regular old eye strain, which can make your head hurt.

    Focusing on something far in the distance can strain the eyes, Deobhakta says, particularly after wearing dark eclipse glasses that cause the pupils to dilate. “It’s very similar to when people stare at a screen for a long time in the dark,” he says.

    Or, Sobrin adds, you could just be feeling the effects of light sensitivity after staring at the sky in a way you usually don’t.

    In most cases, headaches and eye pain should fade within a few hours of viewing the eclipse, Deobhakta says, though you can always consult a physician if you’re worried. Like the eclipse, “this too shall pass,” he says.

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    Jamie Ducharme

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  • Photos: Scenes from Totality at Buc-ee’s

    Photos: Scenes from Totality at Buc-ee’s

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    Driving toward totality this morning there were signs of a flop. With few cars on the road, where was everyone?…

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    Lauren Drewes Daniels

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  • Solar eclipse 2024 live: Watch ABC7 coverage of rare celestial event

    Solar eclipse 2024 live: Watch ABC7 coverage of rare celestial event

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — On April 8, 2024, the United States will experience a rare celestial event: a total solar eclipse. For a few brief hours, the moon will travel in front of the sun, blocking it completely.

    While California isn’t in the path of totality, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to partake in the rare event.

    ABC7 News coverage of the solar eclipse starts at 10 a.m. Following that at 11 a.m. there will be a live special on the eclipse in the Bay Area and a live special from ABC News and National Geographic called “Eclipse Across America.” You can watch in the media player above, on ABC7 News app, or by downloading the ABC7 Bay Area App to watch on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple and Google TV.

    Where to watch the solar eclipse 2024

    Exploratorium

    The Exploratorium will be hosting a watch party at Pier 15 where you’ll be able to view live telescope images of the total solar eclipse from Texas and Mexico.

    Visitors who attended the event will get a free pair of solar viewing glasses while supplies last and learn safe viewing techniques from Exploratorium educators. There will also be activities to learn about the science of the eclipse.

    VIDEO: Can’t snag solar eclipse glasses? Here’s how to make your own!

    Those magical eclipse glasses are pretty hard to find, but it’s okay because you can make your own. We’ll show you how.

    The Exploratorium says After Dark members can visit the museum on this day and receive free daytime admission. This event is free for daytime members and donors.

    For more information about tickets and when the event starts, head to The Exploratorium’s website.

    Chabot Space & Science Center

    The Chabot Space & Science Center will be hosting an event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. where you’ll be able to watch the NASA live stream on the center’s 20-inch telescope, Rachel.

    There will also be eclipse crafts for kids and visitors will be able to enjoy the event with some coffee or hot chocolate.

    Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for kids/students/seniors and $10 for members.

    For more information about the event and tickets, head to Chabot Space & Science Center’s website.

    RELATED: How to protect your eyes during 2024 solar eclipse

    The Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley

    Explore solar science and witness a solar eclipse! For the second time in six months, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from Berkeley. Join us for safe solar viewing, solar activities, and expert explanations of how solar eclipses happen. From here, the Moon will cover approximately 35% of the Sun. Eclipse glasses for sale leading up to and during the eclipse. Visit this page for details and admission charge.

    Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma County

    We will only see about 30% of the eclipse here in Northern California, but it is still an event not to miss! We will hold an “open house” style event at the observatory. Stop by to see a livestream of the full total eclipse in our classroom and engage in some other activities at the observatory. Solar eclipse glasses will be available for purchase. This is a free event, but the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park day use parking fee will be required. More info and register here.

    Foothill Observatory in Los Altos

    Two Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) Foothill Operators will open Foothill Observatory for the April 8 partial eclipse, if the weather permits. See Foothill Observatory website here.

    Danville Library

    Mt Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS) is doing an Eclipse Outreach event at the the library located at 400 Front Street. Guests will observe the partial eclipse with both White Light and Hydrogen Alpha filtered scopes, Eclipse glasses. MDAS members will answer questions. Get more information here.

    Although the Lick Observatory isn’t hosting an official event, it’s selling solar eclipse glasses at the gift shop, online and in vending machines at the observatory. If you would like to purchase a pair, click here.

    The only time it’s safe to view the sun without eye protection is during the “totality” of a total solar eclipse, or the brief moments when the moon completely blocks the light of the sun, according to NASA.

    If your location only affords a view of the partial solar eclipse, some of the sun’s powerful light will always be visible. And any glimpse of the sun’s brightness with the naked eye is not only uncomfortable, it’s dangerous.

    MAP: See what the eclipse will look like where you live

    For a mobile-friendly or full-screen version of this interactive map, visit this page.

    What is a total solar eclipse?

    A total solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun. According to NASA, the sky will darken like it was sunrise or sunset.

    “Every total solar eclipse is worth seeing because they’re all different, everyone is a surprise,” Griffith Observatory Director Dr. Ed Krupp said. “It is the most spectacular thing that the sky does you can see with the unaided eye.”

    What is the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse?

    The path of totality will stretch from Mazatlán, Mexico, to Newfoundland, Canada, according to the Griffith Observatory.

    NASA says the solar eclipse will begin at 11:07 a.m. PDT in Mexico and then enter the U.S. in Texas. The eclipse path will then travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas. Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

    The eclipse will then enter Canada in Southern Ontario and end in Newfoundland Canada at 12:46 p.m. PDT.

    How long will the total solar eclipse last?

    According to NASA, the solar eclipse totality will last about four minutes.

    However, the amount of time from the beginning to the end, meaning when the moon starts its path in front of the sun to when it completely moves past the sun, depends on the location. Overall, the process will take more than two hours.

    How much of the eclipse will be visible in California?

    California is not in the path of the total solar eclipse. But the West Coast will see parts of the eclipse.

    “If you’re paying attention, you’ll probably sense a little bit strangeness in the light,” Krupp said. “It’ll be a little off, not a lot. But, if you’re able to watch it directly, you can see this operation of Newton’s gravity happening right in front of your very eyes.”

    In the Los Angeles area, people will see 48.6% of coverage of the sun, according to NASA. The process will begin just after 10 a.m., reach the peak at 11:12 a.m. and end at 12:21 p.m.

    In the Bay Area, people will see 35.9% of coverage of the sun. The process will begin just before 10:15 a.m., reach the peak at 11:13 a.m. and end at 12: 16 p.m.

    How can I safely watch the eclipse?

    It is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing.

    Even looking at the sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a solar filter will instantly cause severe eye injury, according to NASA.

    MORE: Everything you need to enjoy the eclipse safely including solar glasses and more

    Regular sunglasses are also not safe for solar viewing.

    The only safe way to view the sun is with solar viewers, which are thousands of times darker than sunglasses and comply with the ISO 12312-2. You can find a list of safe solar viewers here.

    The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this article.

    RELATED ECLIPSE STORIES & VIDEOS

    If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

    Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    KGO

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  • Clouds may spoil the view of the total solar eclipse

    Clouds may spoil the view of the total solar eclipse

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    MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — Millions of spectators along a narrow corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada eagerly awaited Monday’s celestial sensation — a total eclipse of the sun — even as forecasters called for clouds.

    What You Need To Know

    • It promised to be North America’s biggest eclipse crowd ever, thanks to the densely populated path and the lure of more than four minutes of midday darkness in Texas and other choice spots

    • In Texas, the south-central region was locked in clouds, but it was a little bit better to the northeast, said National Weather Service meteorologist Cody Snell

    • Monday’s eclipse begins in the Pacific and makes landfall at Mazatlan, Mexico, before moving into Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and 12 other U.S. states in the Midwest, Middle Atlantic and New England, and then Canada

    • Clear skies are only promised in northern New England to Canada. The rest of North America will see a partial eclipse, weather permitting

    The best weather was expected at the tail end of the eclipse in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as New Brunswick and Newfoundland in Canada.

    It promised to be North America’s biggest eclipse crowd ever, thanks to the densely populated path and the lure of more than four minutes of midday darkness in Texas and other choice spots. Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting. The show got underway in the Pacific shortly before noon EDT with totality expected to sweep North America over the next few hours.

    In Texas, the south-central region was locked in clouds, but it was a little bit better to the northeast, said National Weather Service meteorologist Cody Snell.

    “Dallas is pretty much a 50-50 shot,” he said.

    The cliff-hanging uncertainty added to the drama. But the overcast skies in Mesquite near Dallas didn’t rattle Erin Froneberger, who was in town for business and brought along her eclipse glasses.

    “We are always just rushing, rushing, rushing,” she said. “But this is an event that we can just take a moment, a few seconds that it’s going to happen and embrace it.”

    Sara Laneau, of Westfield, Vermont, woke up at 4 a.m. Monday to bring her 16-year-old niece to nearby Jay Peak ski resort to catch the eclipse after a morning on the slopes.

    “This will be a first from me and an experience of a lifetime,” said Laneau, who was dressed in a purple metallic ski suit with a solar eclipse T-shirt underneath.

    At Niagara Falls State Park, tourists streamed in under cloudy skies with wagons, strollers, coolers and lawn chairs. Park officials expected a large crowd at the popular site overlooking the falls.

    For Monday’s full eclipse, the moon was due to slip right in front of the sun, entirely blocking it. The resulting twilight, with only the sun’s outer atmosphere or corona visible, would be long enough for birds and other animals to fall silent, and for planets, stars and maybe even a comet to pop out.

    The out-of-sync darkness lasts up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. That’s almost twice as long as it was during the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth. It will be another 21 years before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse on this scale.

    Extending five hours from the first bite out of the sun to the last, Monday’s eclipse begins in the Pacific and makes landfall at Mazatlan, Mexico, before moving into Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and 12 other U.S. states in the Midwest, Middle Atlantic and New England, and then Canada. Last stop: Newfoundland, with the eclipse ending in the North Atlantic.

    It will take just 1 hour, 40 minutes for the moon’s shadow to race more than 4,000 miles across the continent.

    Eye protection is needed with proper eclipse glasses and filters to look at the sun, except when it ducks completely out of sight during an eclipse.

    The path of totality — approximately 115 miles wide — encompasses several major cities this time, including Dallas; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal. An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles. Add in all the eclipse chasers, amateur astronomers, scientists and just plain curious, and it’s no wonder the hotels and flights are sold out and the roads jammed.

    Experts from NASA and scores of universities are posted along the route, poised to launch research rockets and weather balloons, and conduct experiments. The International Space Station’s seven astronauts also will be on the lookout, 270 miles up.

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    Associated Press

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  • Live cameras: Follow totality of the total solar eclipse

    Live cameras: Follow totality of the total solar eclipse

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    On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cast a shadow of totality across parts of 15 states. Check out this list of live cameras and watch the skies darken as they enter totality.

    What You Need To Know

    Texas

    1:34 p.m. CT: San Antonio (TxDOT)

    1:36-1:37 p.m. CT:  Austin (TxDOT)

    1:36 p.m. CT: Kyle

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otX-buqqS6Q

    1:38-1:42 p.m. CT: Waco (TxDOT)

    1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas (TxDOT)

    1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas skyline (EarthCam)

    1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas/Reunion Tower (EarthCam)

    1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas Eye (Earthcam)

    1:42-1:46 p.m. CT: Greenville

    1:44-1:46 p.m. CT: Big Sandy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNerDIcpFx8

    Arkansas

    1:49-1:53 p.m. CT: Hot Springs (Instacam)

    1:50-1:54 p.m. CT: Russellville (Angelcam)

    Illinois

    1:59-2:04 p.m. CT: Marion (City of Marion)

    Kentucky

    2:00-2:02 p.m. CT: Paducah (WMVision)

    Indiana

    3:05-3:09 p.m. ET: Bloomington (Indiana University)

    3:06-3:10 p.m. ET: Carmel

    3:06-3:10 p.m. ET: Carmel – Carter Green Amphitheater

    3:07-3:11 p.m. ET: Nashville (EarthCam)

    Ohio

    3:09-3:13 p.m. ET: Troy (TroyOhio.gov)

    3:10-3:14 p.m. ET: Deshler

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm0r1JqpDT8

    3:12-3:16 p.m. ET: Cedar Point (Cedar Point)

    3:13-3:14 p.m. ET: Apple Valley Lake

    3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Lorain

    3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Cleveland

    3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Cleveland (EarthCam)

    3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Cleveland Public Square (EarthCam)

    3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Edgewater Park (Cleveland Metro Parks)

    3:14-3:18 p.m. ET: Fairport Harbor (Angelcam)

    3:15-3:18 p.m. ET: Geneva-on-the-Lake

    Pennsylvania

    3:16-3:20 p.m. ET: Erie (Epic Web Studios)

    3:16-3:20 p.m. ET: North East (east view)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ_gYUYf61k

    3:16-3:20 p.m. ET: North East (west view)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaTiz0-i0Nc

    New York        

    3:18-3:21 p.m. ET: Sunset Bay (Lake Erie Sunset Bay Live Cams)

    3:18-3:22 p.m. ET: Niagara Falls (Maid of the Mist)

    3:18-3:22 p.m. ET: Niagara Falls

    3:18-3:22 p.m. ET: Buffalo

    3:20-3:24 p.m. ET: Fairport on the Erie Canal (Village of Fairport)

    3:22-3:26 p.m. ET: Watertown

    3:22-3:26 p.m. ET: Watertown

    3:22-3:26 p.m. ET: Sackets Harbor

    3:23-3:24 p.m. ET: Syracuse (ArmoryCam.com)

    3:23-3:24 p.m. ET: Syracuse (Syracuse Mets)

    3:23-3:26 p.m. ET: St. Lawrence County

    Vermont

    3:26-3:29 p.m. ET: Colchester

    3:26-3:29 p.m. ET: Mallets Bay

    3:26-3:29 p.m. ET: Burlington (Hazecam)

    3:27-3:29 p.m. ET: Stowe (EarthCam)

    3:27-3:29 p.m. ET: Duxbury (National Life Group)

    Maine

    3:30-3:33 p.m. ET: Rockwood

    3:31-3:34 p.m. ET: Mt. Katahdin

    3:31-3:34 p.m. ET: Mt. Katahdin

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm8j74sl47U

    3:32-3:35 p.m. ET: Presque Isle (crownofmaine.com)

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • St. Petersburg College hosting watch party for Monday’s total solar eclipse

    St. Petersburg College hosting watch party for Monday’s total solar eclipse

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Avid star gazers and casual gazers alike will be looking up to the sky come Monday for a total solar eclipse.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg College will be hosting a free watch party for Monday’s total solar eclipse

    • Telescopes will be set up along with special eclipse glasses so that viewers can watch the spectacle safely

    • Those with the college ask attendees to park in the north and west lots off 69th street on the campus, with the watch party starting at 1:30 p.m.

    Though Florida will not be in the eclipse’s path, those around the Tampa Bay area are prepping to catch a glimpse. A rare sight that has those at St. Petersburg College getting ready.

    “I teach the astronomy classes here on the Gibbs campus of SPC for the past 27 years, now,” said Dr. Craig Joseph, planetarium director at St. Pete College.

    Inside the natural sciences building at St. Petersburg College, Joseph provides third graders with a lesson on space. Bringing up images of planets and constellations from the comfort of the planetarium.

    “You’ll see a big bite taken out of the sun during the eclipse,” he said. “Here in Florida and throughout most of the country, it’ll be just a partial eclipse where part of the sun will be covered up. Here in Florida and the Tampa Bay area, we’ll get about 60 or 65% of the sun will be covered up by the eclipse.”

    Viewing the spectacle requires some special equipment. Like these total eclipse glasses.

    “Now this does give the sun a false color- it will make the sun orange in color, although the sun is actually white,” says Dr. Joseph. “Many people are surprised to hear that. But most eclipse viewers they give a false color to the sun, just so people know.” 

    Another method of viewing is by telescope, but not in the traditional sense. If you have a telescope or binoculars, Dr. Joseph says, don’t look thru them at the sun. Instead, you can project the sun’s image on a piece of paper.

    “I really think that a great way to watch the eclipse is simply to either project the sun’s image using a smaller telescope or pair of binoculars and project the image on a piece of paper or use what’s called a pinhole camera,” he said. “Which can also be projected on a piece of paper so you can view the sun that way also.”

    The college will be hosting their own viewing party on campus, with telescopes and viewing glasses made available to watch safely.

    “Anybody that wants to stop by is free to do that and stop by the college,” said Dr. Joseph.

    A rare sight not expected to be seen again in more than 20 years.

    St. Pete College’s viewing party is free to attend. Those with the college ask attendees to park in the north and west lots off 69th street. The party starts at 1:30 p.m.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Help NASA gather eclipse data with your smartphone

    Help NASA gather eclipse data with your smartphone

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    The celestial event of the year occurs on Monday, the total solar eclipse, and whether you will watch it from totality or just partial, you could help collect data for science.

    What You Need To Know

    • Record meteorological measurements during the eclipse with a special app

    • Scientists want to gain more knowledge on how wildlife interact during the eclipse

    • Photos taken during the eclipse will help scientists map the sun

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) calls on citizen scientists to document meteorological and biological changes during the eclipse and all you need is a smartphone. Here are the three ways to participate in this historical experience.

    GLOBE Eclipse

    Download GLOBE Observer from the app store and click on the Eclipse tool. Once there, it will prompt you to take and observe meteorological measurements, including air temperature, observations of sky coverage by monitoring the clouds and even characterize the vegetation in your area.

    Eclipse Soundscapes Observers

    The Eclipse Soundscapes project asks how wildlife responds to the eclipse. Citizen scientists should be outdoors during the eclipse and record information about the location, including what they hear, see and feel during the eclipse.

    They will then take this information and submit it via a web form. Participants are encouraged to take photos.

    SunSketcher

    This app provides the ability to photograph the eclipse. Images collected will help scientists to map the sun. The hope is to reveal the precise shape of the solar disk.

    Safety

    NASA urges its citizen scientists to take the proper precautions when viewing the eclipse. Safety glasses must be worn except during the minutes-long section of totality.

    Camera lenses, binoculars and telescopes must be fitted with a special-purpose solar filter to ensure safety when viewing. Otherwise, severe eye injury can occur.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Eclipse watch party to support historic archaeological park

    Eclipse watch party to support historic archaeological park

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    DAYTON, Ohio — On April 8, several major cities in Ohio are in the path of totality during the solar eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the Buckeye State, and costs are going up.

    In Dayton, hotel prices are up more than $100 for the night of April 8, and the cost for flights keeps on climbing. When it comes to watching the eclipse, it comes down to personal preference.

    Many will be viewing it from large free watch parties, others from their backyards, and some will use it as a way to give back to a favorite charity or their community.

    What You Need To Know

    • As hundreds of thousands of people plan to visit Ohio for the eclipse, prices are going up for hotels, plane tickets, and many people are making plans. Some choose to spend money traveling and others might use the eclipse as a way to give back

    • A small high-end event will be held at Sunwatch Indian Village in Dayton to help preserve the historical site

    • Ticket costs are $500

    At Sunwatch Indian Village in Dayton, it’s not just going to be a party, but it’s a major fundraiser to help preserve ancient history.

    “Sunwatch is an 800-year-old Native American site located along the banks of the Great Miami,” said Taylor Hoffman with the Dayton Society of Natural History as she gave a tour.

    Hoffman’s first job was at Sunwatch as the site manager.  

    “So what we’ve done is we’ve reconstructed part of the village on the exact footprint where we found the things that we found, the archaeological footprint,” Hoffman said as the tour continued.

    Over the years, the Solstice House was reconstructed along with the Stockade.

    The markers on the ground are where historical house patterns once were.

    “Sunwatch is laid out really cool in a very intentional way. It’s laid out in concentric rings,” Hoffman said.

     From ceremonial buildings to a burial ring, Sunwatch has been a hot spot for learning since the late 80s and a staple for Dayton-area field trips.

    On April 8, it will look a bit different.

    “We have a very small, high-end event for up to 150 people and what we’re going to do is we are going to watch the sun, we’re going to learn about Sunwatch, and our astronomer is going to tell us all about what a solar eclipse is when it happens at 3:10 p.m. So we’re very excited,” Hoffman said.

    From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., people can explore, walk the grounds and celebrate the season.

    “We’ll have educational tours, you’ll get to go inside the houses and we’ll have staff on hand to talk to you about all the different stops on the tour. We also might have our archaeological dig pit educational activities going that day too,” said Hoffman.

    The event will be the largest fundraiser to date for the site.

    “The price is $500 a ticket which does seem steep, but it is a fundraiser for us and it will come directly to Sunwatch and come right back here to help us maintain these buildings, build new buildings, do more research, and kind of protect the site and raise awareness for it as well,” Hoffman said.

    The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806 and the next won’t pass through until 2099, so people are ready to celebrate in a big way.

    On the menu are bison burgers, bison chili, mimosas with Sunny D, moon pies and Sun Chips.

    While the event will certainly make a difference for Sunwatch and its centuries of history, for Hoffman it’s a day that comes full circle.

    “Sunwatch has always had a place in my heart since I was little because growing up here we always come for a field trip. So I’ve always been interested in history and my background is actually history and anthropology, so I think it’s really cool that I get to see a once in a lifetime event at a once in a lifetime place like Sunwatch,” Hoffman said.

    It’s a once in a lifetime event with several precious minutes to spend however you choose.  

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    Alese Underwood

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  • How do animals react during a total solar eclipse? Scientists plan to find out in April

    How do animals react during a total solar eclipse? Scientists plan to find out in April

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    WASHINGTON — When a total solar eclipse transforms day into night, will tortoises start acting romantic? Will giraffes gallop? Will apes sing odd notes?

    Researchers will be standing by to observe how animals’ routines at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas are disrupted when skies dim on April 8. They previously detected other strange animal behaviors in 2017 at a South Carolina zoo that was in the path of total darkness.

    “To our astonishment, most of the animals did surprising things,” said Adam Hartstone-Rose, a North Carolina State University researcher who led the observations published in the journal Animals.

    While there are many individual sightings of critters behaving bizarrely during historic eclipses, only in recent years have scientists started to rigorously study the altered behaviors of wild, domestic and zoo animals.

    Seven years ago, Galapagos tortoises at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina, “that generally do absolutely nothing all day … during the peak of the eclipse, they all started breeding,” said Hartstone-Rose. The cause of the behavior is still unclear.

    A mated pair of Siamangs, gibbons that usually call to each other in the morning, sang unusual tunes during the afternoon eclipse. A few male giraffes began to gallop in “apparent anxiety.” The flamingos huddled around their juveniles.

    Researchers say that many animals display behaviors connected with an early dusk.

    In April, Hartstone-Rose’s team plans to study similar species in Texas to see if the behaviors they witnessed before in South Carolina point to larger patterns.

    Several other zoos along the path are also inviting visitors to help track animals, including zoos in Little Rock, Arkansas; Toledo, Ohio; and Indianapolis.

    RELATED: Illinois in path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse; what to expect in Chicago

    This year’s full solar eclipse in North America crisscrosses a different route than in 2017 and occurs in a different season, giving researchers and citizen scientists opportunities to observe new habits.

    “It’s really high stakes. We have a really short period to observe them and we can’t repeat the experiment,” said Jennifer Tsuruda, a University of Tennessee entomologist who observed honeybee colonies during the 2017 eclipse.

    The honeybees that Tsuruda studied decreased foraging during the eclipse, as they usually would at night, except for those from the hungriest hives.

    “During a solar eclipse, there’s a conflict between their internal rhythms and external environment,” said University of Alberta’s Olav Rueppell, adding that bees rely on polarized light from the sun to navigate.

    Nate Bickford, an animal researcher at Oregon Institute of Technology, said that “solar eclipses actually mimic short, fast-moving storms,” when skies darken and many animals take shelter.

    After the 2017 eclipse, he analyzed data from tracking devices previously placed on wild species to study habitat use. Flying bald eagles change the speed and direction they’re moving during an eclipse, he said. So do feral horses, “probably taking cover, responding to the possibility of a storm out on the open plains.”

    The last full U.S. solar eclipse to span coast to coast happened in late summer, in August. The upcoming eclipse in April gives researchers an opportunity to ask new questions including about potential impacts on spring migration.

    Most songbird species migrate at night. “When there are night-like conditions during the eclipse, will birds think it’s time to migrate and take flight?” said Andrew Farnsworth of Cornell University.

    His team plans to test this by analyzing weather radar data – which also detects the presence of flying birds, bats and insects – to see if more birds take wing during the eclipse.

    As for indoor pets, they may react as much to what their owners are doing – whether they’re excited or nonchalant about the eclipse – as to any changes in the sky, said University of Arkansas animal researcher Raffaela Lesch.

    “Dogs and cats pay a lot of attention to us, in addition to their internal clocks,” she said.

    Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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