The Solar Eclipse in the Delaware Valley

***CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FROM NASA REGARDING VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE***

By now, you’ve probably heard that a solar eclipse is happening on Monday, April 8th. Here’s everything you need to know about the eclipse and how it will effect the Delaware Valley.

WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE?

According to Nasa, “a total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun.”

WHEN WAS THE TIME A SOLAR ECLIPSE PASSED NORTH AMERICA?

According to the National Weather Service, the last solar eclipse to pass North America occurred on August 21, 2017.

WILL WE SEE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY?

No. NASA says the path of the solar eclipse will start in Mexico and will pass over parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire,, Maine, and Canada.

Although the total eclipse will pass over parts of Pennsylvania, we will not experience a 100% eclipse in the Delaware Valley. Visitphilly.com says that the eclipse will reach “90.1% coverage in the city at its peak.”

According to 6ABC, a partial eclipse will start in the Philadelphia area “at 2:08 p.m. Monday, with the highest coverage happening around 3:23 p.m.” That means that the partial eclipse will start and end a few minutes earlier in Cecil County, MD and New Castle County, DE.

IS IT SAFE TO VIEW THE SOLAR ECLIPSE?

NASA says that, “Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”

NASA has put together a comprehensive guide on how to watch the solar eclipse safely. Click here to read that.

WHEN WILL THE NEXT SOLAR ECLIPSE BE VISIBLE IN NORTH AMERICA?

According to NASA, “the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.”

HOW WILL PETS REACT TO THE SOLAR ECLIPSE?

According to the American Kennel Club, “Livestock and wildlife are more attuned to the sun and might react to an eclipse, but your dog probably won’t.” If you’re dog does seemed stress during the eclipse, the AKC has some suggestions to help relieve that stress. Click here to check them out.

And what about your cat? Well, the website catster.com says “Typically, solar eclipses have little to no effect on cats.”