Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Monday, April 8, 2024
If you haven’t heard yet, this year there will be a Total Solar Eclipse happening in April. For Antlers, the partial eclipse will begin around 12:27 p.m. Totality will last for approximately 1 minute and 55 seconds, starting around 1:45 p.m.
Due to the eclipse, areas are expecting extra people and increased trafnumbers could reach into the thousands.
Southeast Oklahoma gets a total solar eclipse! Be prepared to see the greatest sight naof the Sun. Be sure to get inside the path of totality for the full experience.
Simply put, a total eclipse of the Sun is the most beautiful sight you will ever see in the sky. Nothing can prepare you for the amazing sight when the sky suddenly darkens and the Sun’s corona shines in the sky. No photograph can capture the stunning beauty of a total solar eclipse, you must see it for yourself. Learn about the basics of the solar eclipse at greatamericaneclipse. more about the wonder of eclipses at greatamericaneclipse.com/splendor. Find your copy of this map here.
The entirety of Oklahoma inside the path of total solar eclipse is spanned by the Choctaw Nation, the 2nd largest
Native American reservation in the United States. The cities of Idabel and Broken Bow are good bases for eclipse visitors, with Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake being scenic locaoptions.
For eclipse viewing, mobility is essential especially in case of inclement weather. US route 259 gives northsouth mobility in this area and to northern Texas. US route 70 provides east-west mobility.
Through Oklahoma, the speed of the Moon’s shadow will accelerate from about 1680 miles per hour to about 1745 miles per hour.
The Pushmataha County Chamber of Commerce is suggesting that residents should consider the possible in - ple, in our area the weekend before the event, and possible the entire week before, and prepare accordingly.
Some of their suggestions include:
- Due to pass through travelers headed to the Broken Bow area, Arkansas and Texas for there could possibly be - ternoon and evening of the eclipse.
- Make an eclipse plan now for your family, pets and place of employment.
- Stock up on essentials before the week of the event. Have on hand the medications you might need, water, food, gas, toilet paper, etc.
- In case the internet becomes overwhelmed and merchants can’t process cards, think about having cash on hand.
- Plan ahead for friends and family who might visit during the event.
- Do not schedule appointments, deliveries or meetings for this week.
- Plan for high - ter usage, high internet demands, and so forth.
- Emergency services of all types will be stretched to capacity. Consider staying home the day of the event (if possible) to avoid trafaccess to facilities and these types of things.
- Avoid main roads from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on eclipse of visitors, it is expected congestion in our small town.
If you are planning on participating in watching the eclipse, please keep the following in mind:
- It is NOT SAFE to look directly at the sun. You must wear the correct eye protection to view the eclipse. Viewing glasses are available for purchase at the Pushmataha County Chamber of Commerce. The Antlers Public Library will be providing glasses to the local schools free of charge. If you buy your own, remember that they must be rated with the ISO 12312-2. For a list of reputable sources go to www.eclipse.aas.org.
- Keep your pets on a leash and have them up to date on their shots.
- Thing about weather this day. The temperature can drop for a short time, so plan accordingly. This will also be the beginning of tornado season, so be aware. - Make plans ahead of time for where you plan to view the eclipse. Strangers could potentially be in places you assume will be available.