Stages of the moon leading towards the total solar eclipse featured in the middle, each moon phase is a type of eclipse that can be seen. Photo by Santafee.com.
Within the lifetime of Gen Z, there have been multiple space activities, eclipses, planet alinement and even meteor showers. Haven’t seen any of them? Don’t be upset, the biggest is yet to come.
On April 4th, there will be a total solar eclipse so noticeable and large that it will be able to be seen by 48 of the United States and portions of Mexico and Canada.
What is a solar eclipse and why is this one a total eclipse? Solar eclipses are when the sun and the moon line up and the sun will be hidden behind the moon during the day, producing some cool sky lighting and a few moments of darker surroundings. This can be only a portion of the moon covering the sun, leaving room for the sun to still be seen behind the silhouette of the moon. Total solar eclipses are very rare, this is when the moon completely covers the sun, leaving the sun dark with a red/orange ring for a few moments before the rotation eventually knocks the alignment off center with the sun.
Fun fact about the solar eclipse, a lot like the picture NASA space stations take of the earth, the thin colored ring around the sun is actually its atmosphere. Similar to the earth, the atmosphere can be seen from space, almost a glowing blue color for the earth while the sun is obviously a red or orange color.
Here is a list of things that one will need to properly look at or photograph the eclipse. First, and the most important, is the protective glasses made specifically for eclipse watching. These are very thin and flexible glasses similar to sunglasses that can block out the harmful ray the eclipse will be giving off. Not wearing the glasses and viewing the eclipse to the bare human eye can cause sight issues as bad as blindness. These can often be found at pharmacies and medical goods stores. Some counties in New York have started giving the glasses out to the community for free, so everyone has the means to view this event. Second, and the most accessible, is a photo lens. This is simply just a lens to put over your phone camera or other cameras to block harmful rays and get great pictures of the eclipse happening. Lastly, for those who care to explore deeper into the phenomenon, a telescope would be a great option. These can amplify the size and overall image of the eclipse to be right in front of the viewers eyes. These are usually more expensive than using just a normal phone lens or even using the glasses.
Solar eclipses are very rare and a strange natural phenomenon to exist in our world, so take advantage of the moment and go view the eclipse. Just make sure all the right precautions are taken to keep you and the people around you safe.
