(C) El Paso Matters.org This story was originally published by El Paso Matters.org and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . A total solar eclipse is crossing through Texas. Here’s why El Paso will see something different. [1] ['Brandy Ruiz', 'More Brandy Ruiz', 'El Paso Matters'] Date: 2024-04-05 It has been over a century since a total solar eclipse made its way through North or Central Texas and the eclipse on Monday, April 8 will be the last one the state will see until 2044, according to NASA. The last time a path of totality – the predicted path of where the moon’s shadow will completely cover the sun – ran through a large swath of Texas was in 1878, when it crossed the Panhandle through East Texas. This time, the path of totality is expected to run from Eagle Pass through San Antonio and Dallas to Oklahoma. In places like Del Rio and Eagle Pass, the sun will appear completely covered by the moon around 2:30 p.m. (CST) and stay that way for a little over three minutes. But, when viewed from El Paso, however, the sun will only be partially covered and the eclipse will reach its peak at around noon (MST) – possibly disappointing those who had their hearts set on watching the total eclipse. What El Pasoans might see during solar eclipse While El Paso is not in the path of totality, El Pasoans will still be able to view a partial eclipse. A partial eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth are not perfectly aligned. Contrary to what observers in the path of totality might see, El Pasoans will see the eclipse in the form a crescent shape and only partial darkness. As soon as the moon begins to cover the sun, observers may begin to notice crescent-shaped shadows on the ground. This can be seen in the shadows cast by the leaves of shrubs and trees, but can also be cast on your own by holding a colander up to the sun and observing its shadow on the ground. The eclipse may also affect how pets or animals around your neighborhood behave. As temperatures slowly dip and the light begins to dim, animals may take on nighttime behaviors. You might be able to observe this phenomenon by paying attention to the animals around you near 11 a.m. Monday, when the eclipse begins. Try to notice whether or not you still see or hear them at the peak around 12:25 p.m.. The solar event will end around 1:44 p.m.. El Pasoans can expect a clear sky with 3% to 6% sky cover between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, according to the National Weather service. Where to get free eclipse glasses You can pick up free solar eclipse glasses at any of the City of El Paso Public Libraries. They will have a limited amount and will be giving out one pair per family. If you live in Far East El Paso, the county’s Ilumina Public Library located at 15371 Kentwood Avenue is also giving away free eclipse glasses at limited availability. El Paso Community College’s Mission del Paso Campus will also be giving away glasses during their eclipse viewing even from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Building R on campus at 10700 Gateway West. The event will feature a live NASA feed, telescopes for viewing, and EPCC faculty who will teach more about the eclipse. A total solar eclipse is seen on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, above Madras, Oregon. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the contiguous United States from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of South America, Africa, and Europe. (Courtesy NASA/Aubrey Gemignani) Some large retail chain stores in El Paso might sell eclipse glasses as well. The American Astronomical Society warned observers of the potential of purchasing fake glasses and created a list of approved vendors. You can also check the safety of your eclipse glasses at home by looking through the lenses and checking to see how dark they are. If you can see things like home decorations then your glasses aren’t dark enough. Only bright lights should be visible through the lenses, though they may appear faint. Additionally, check to see if your glasses fit the international standard ISO 12312-2. This will be printed on the inside of the earpieces. But, make sure the fine print includes the address of American Paper Optics, one of the major U.S. manufacturers of safe solar viewers. Counterfeit glasses will only include the name of the manufacturer and not the address. [END] --- [1] Url: https://elpasomatters.org/2024/04/05/where-to-watch-solar-eclipse-el-paso-free-safety-glasses/ Published and (C) by El Paso Matters.org Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0 International. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/elpasomatters/