All Around Arkansas: Get Ready For The Solar Eclipse
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, then you know there will be a total solar eclipse occurring on Monday, April 8.According to experts, the best place to see the astronomical wonder is Arkansas. Although the total eclipse will last just approximately four minutes, millions of tourists will be traveling to the state once known as the Land of Opportunity to have the best opportunity to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event.
I’m no astronomer, but as I understand it, as the sun, moon, and Earth line up perfectly, the sun will become blocked by the moon and then cast a dark shadow on a small portion of our planet. In the middle of the afternoon, the skies above will grow dark and the sun will disappear for several minutes.
The moon’s narrow dark shadow will rapidly traverse across the United States at over 1600 mph, making the path of totality, which will travel over most of Arkansas.
There will be a huge difference in 95% coverage versus 100% coverage which the Natural State will have, and why so many are traveling to our state to witness it.
According to the National Weather Service, Little Rock will see the eclipse begin at 12:33 p.m. and will reach 100% totality around 1:52 p.m. and will then be over around 3:11 p.m.totality length and times will vary slightly across the eclipse’s path. Cities such as Clinton, Danville, Dequeen, Melbourne, Mena and Russellville will enjoy over four minutes of mostly darker skies in the middle of the afternoon.
When viewing the total eclipse, it is imperative that you do not look at the sun directly without wearing proper eye protection. It’s very important to wear eclipse glasses from a trusted manufacturer. One crucial thing to look for when obtaining your eclipse glasses is to look for the approval stamp of ISO 12312-2 on them. This label means your eyes are fully protected from the dangerous rays of the sun when viewing.
Some trusted glasses are made by American Paper Optics and Rainbow Symphony. The American Astronomical Society also has several approved products on its website. Many cities, chambers of commerce, public libraries and other agencies and organizations are giving away the glasses for free. My wife and I recently purchased our eclipse glasses for $1.50 a pair in a state park gift shop. We couldn’t beat the price, and they have a commemorative logo and the date of the big event printed on them, making them a great souvenir.
Another fun way to see the eclipse is to make a pinhole projector. As light goes through the tiny holes, the eclipse is projected on the ground. I remember my co-workers and I at Arkansas Parks and Tourism did this during the last eclipse in August 2017.
Again, as totality will only last 2-4 minutes be ready to put your eclipse glasses back on as soon as the sunlight begins to show once again. Over the next hour or so the moon’s shadow will retreat to the northeast and skies will brighten up once again. Nature will then return to its normal activities.
As a result of the influx of visitors to Arkansas, be sure to plan accordingly once the eclipse is over. Expect traffic congestion and slow travel for several hours in some areas. Lines for gas and food have the potential to be extremely long as well. State officials and local law enforcement have been working on a plan for years to help the state’s infrastructure, which will be put to the test on April 8 and the preceding days.
Let’s hope that no cloudy skies or April showers (even though they bring May flowers) are in the forecast, as any cloud cover or precipitation most would ruin the total solar eclipse here in Arkansas for millions of excited tourists and residents.
Enjoy the total eclipse, Arkansas!
A sixth-generation Arkansan, Darrell Brown is a lover of all things Arkansas. He lives in Saline County with his wife, Amy, and their beloved Boston Terrier, Dixie. His previous columns can be found at Allaroundarkansas. blogspot.com.