5 things to know about today’s total solar eclipse

Maryland to see 85%-90% coverage during afternoon

2024-04-08 - Associated Press Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.

Monday’s eclipse will make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast and cross over Texas and 14 other U.S. states, before exiting over Canada. The moon will cover the sun, blocking sunlight for up to to 4 minutes, 28 seconds, depending on location.

Most of Maryland will get a partial eclipse that blocks 85%-90% of the sun, according to NASA.

The eclipse will begin in Baltimore at 2:05 p.m., reaching about 88% coverage around 3:21 p.m. and ending at 4:33 p.m.

While clouds and a slight chance of rain are in the forecast for Monday afternoon, forecasters expect the eclipse to be visible.

The Maryland Science Center is holding a watch party Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Johns Hopkins will hold an eclipse watch party at 3 p.m. in front of Gilman Hall at the Homewood campus.

Here are five things to know about the celestial showstopper, including where to find some eclipse-related deals:

What’s a total solar eclipse?

The moon will line up perfectly between the Earth and the sun at midday, blotting out the sunlight. The full eclipse will last longer than usual because the moon will be just 223,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) from Earth, one of the year’s closest approaches. The closer the moon is to Earth, the bigger it is in the sky from our perspective, resulting in an especially long and intense period of sun-blocked darkness.

Totality will last the longest over Mexico at 4 minutes, 28 seconds. Elsewhere along the track, as in

Syracuse, New York, totality will last just 1½ minutes.

What’s the eclipse path?

The moon’s shadow will slice a diagonal line from the southwest to the northeast across North America, briefly plunging communities along the track into darkness. Totality will enter the continent at Mazatlan, Mexico, and exit at Newfoundland in Canada. In between, 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine will experience totality, including snippets of Tennessee and Michigan. It will be a repeat for Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois, which were also in prime position for 2017’s total solar eclipse.

How can you see it?

NASA is offering several hours of streaming online from several cities along the totality path. And don’t forget to use special glasses to safely watch the eclipse. Staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse or at any other time can lead to permanent eye damage. The eclipse is safe to witness with the naked eye only during totality, or the period of total darkness when the moon completely covers the sun. Sunglasses are not protective enough, and binoculars and telescopes without a proper solar filter can magnify light from the sun, making them unsafe. Eye experts warn against viewing the eclipse through a phone camera. The sun’s bright rays can also damage a phone’s digital components.

When’s the next one?

After Monday, the next total solar eclipse won’t occur until 2026. But it will graze the top of the world, dipping into Greenland, Iceland and Spain. The next one in 2027 will march across Spain and northern Africa, with totality lasting an incredible 6 ½ minutes. North Americans will have to wait until 2033 for another total solar eclipse, but it will be limited to Alaska. In 2044, Western Canada, Montana and North Dakota will have front-row seats. And in 2045, the U.S. will once again experience a coastto-coast total solar eclipse.

Shopping deals

Businesses are taking advantage of the total solar eclipse to offer special products and savings. In the snacks department alone, Krispy Kreme is teaming up with Oreo to sell a limited doughnut-cookie creation. Sonic Drive-In is selling a “Blackout Slush Float.” And Frito-Lay’s SunChips has unveiled a new flavor — Pineapple Habanero and Black Bean Spicy Gouda — that will be available only during the celestial event’s nearly 4½ minutes of totality.

Meanwhile, airlines like Southwest and Delta have advertised eclipse-viewing flight paths.

Great Wolf Lodge is having an eclipse sale for stay dates through June 13. Booking must be done by Tuesday. Premium suites start at $148.

Raising Cane’s said it’s gearing up for the cosmic celebration with the opportunity to win free Cane’s for 20 years. Participants can enter at raisingcanes.com/ solareclipse on Monday for a chance to win.

Burger King is celebrating the eclipse Monday, too. Royal Perks members can text “ECLIPSE” to 251251 to receive a buy-one-getone Whopper offer. The offer can be redeemed during or after the eclipse using Burger King’s app and website.