Solar Eclipse in April Predicted to Attract Major Tourism to Texas
A solar eclipse will cross North America April 8 and is causing people to travel to places like Texas where they will be able to observe the phenomenon in its totality.
Around noon on the Monday the moon will begin to align with the sun and block the sun from the Earth. Despite the sun being roughly 400 times bigger than the moon, the moon's closer proximity to earth gives the appearance that the two celestial objects are the same size. When the moon fully covers the sun, the sun's light will shine around the edge of the moon creating a halo of light in the sky.
credit: Queen’s Gazette
Totality, which is the stage in the eclipse when the moon is completely covering the sun, will begin around 1:30 p.m. CT in Austin. The totality stage will last one minute and 44 seconds, but can last between a few seconds to four minutes, dependent on where the eclipse is being viewed from. Only places located along the eclipse’s path will be able to view the eclipse in its fullest.
In states and other parts of North America not located on the path of totality, viewers will see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon only covers a portion of the sun.
While a full solar eclipse can happen every year or every other, they are often in isolated locations like Antarctica. The last time the path of totality crossed through the United States was in 2017. With the slight rarity of the occasion, people around the state and nation will be traveling to cities in the totality path in order to have the best view of the phenomenon. Texas, having more than 12 million people in the path of totality, expects to have more than one million people traveling to the Lone Star State. Texas is predicted to be the No. 1 destination for tourists traveling for the eclipse.
Not only is the eclipse rare because of the large path of totality through North America, but also for how wide the path is. NASA said they believe 31.6 million people live in the path that is about 100 miles wide.
Credit: NASA
Because of the sun’s intensity, people should not observe the sun directly, even when the eclipse will partly or mostly cover up the moon. Instead, observer’s should wear eclipse glasses or pinhole projectors to gaze at the solar eclipse safely. A failure to use these could result in severe eye injuries.
However, during the short period of totality, it will be safe to look at the sun with the naked eye, but should use protection at all other points of the eclipse.
With expected tourism, businesses in cities like Austin have begun coordinating events and watch parties for people to view the eclipse and take part in the celestial celebration.
