Question 1

How rare are total solar eclipses?

Accepted Answer

Between 2000 BCE to 3000 CE, Earth will experience 11,898 eclipses of the Sun. That means every 1,000 years there are 840 partial eclipses, 791 annular eclipses, 635 total eclipses, and 114 hybrid eclipses. That works out to 2-3 eclipses each year, and about 2 total solar eclipses every 3 years.

Question 2

What does the path of totality mean?

Accepted Answer

The path of totality is where observers will see the Moon completely cover the Sun. The observable total eclipse visible in Hamilton was in 1925 and the next one won't be until 2144. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event!

Question 3

How much will daylight change during a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

In the path of totality, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, the sky will become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk. It won't be like night time, but it will be noticeable.

Question 4

How big of a temperature drop do you get during a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

You can expect the temperature to drop about 5° Celsius depending on the humidity and cloud cover.

Question 5

How do you safely view a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

If you want to see what the Sun looks like, use a properly-equipped telescope or solar viewing glasses. You could also go online and view thousands of pictures taken of the Sun by telescopes and NASA spacecraft!

Question 6

Why is it not safe to look at the Sun even when only a small part of it is visible?

Accepted Answer

The rods and cones in the human retina are very sensitive to light. The Sun’s surface is so bright that even a thin sliver of its light can damage the eye. Therefore, it is very important to never look at the Sun directly. The only time it's safe to look direct at the sun is during totality.

Question 7

How long will the 2024 total solar eclipse last?

Accepted Answer

The duration varies by location with the longest being 4 minutes, 28 seconds, near Torreón, Mexico. Hamilton will experience 2 minutes, 6 seconds of totality.

Total Solar Eclipse