Preparing for the 2024 Solar Eclipse in Kentucky
Kentucky Eclipse 2024
A solar eclipse could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but sometimes, the unexpected happens, and you can experience it twice. Whether or not you were able to witness the 2017 total solar eclipse, make preparations to view the next North American total solar eclipse!
In Kentucky, one of the best places to view this important event is in Henderson. On Monday, April 8, 2024, Henderson residents will be fortunate since it will sit in the 70-mile wide path of total darkness for about two minutes and 34 seconds. This magnificent phenomenon occurs as the moon completely blocks the sun. Daytime becomes pitch black as if it was night, and the sun’s corona shimmers in the dark sky.
Kentucky Cities and Towns in the Path of Totality for the 2024 Solar Eclipse
Besides Henderson, many other Kentucky towns and cities are in or near the path of totality. For example, Paducah will get about one minute and 38 seconds of totality.
Just to name a few more:
- Anthoston
- Arlington
- Arnold
- Bandana
- Bardwell
- Barlow
- Basket
- Bayou
- Beals
- Berkley
- Birdsville
- Blackburn
- Blackford
- Blandville
- Bluff City
- Bordley
- Boxville
- Breckinridge Center
- Burna
- Cairo
- Camellia
- Carlinburg
- Carrsville
- Caseyville
- Cecil
- Ceredo
- Chiles
- Cimota City
- Columbus
- Coraville
- Corydon
- Cullen
- Cunningham
- Curlew
- Dekoven
- Derby
- Euterpe
- Farley
- Finley Addition
- Flournoy
- Free Union
- Futrell
- Future City
- Gage
- Geneva
- Givens
- Graham Hill
- Grahamville
- Grangertown
- Grove Center and many more
The Trajectory of the Solar Eclipse
Hardin County residents can see another partial eclipse as the path of totality runs north of the state. Those in Paducah will have a chance to view the solar eclipse. The northeast trajectory passes through portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Maine, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Louisville. The solar eclipse will start in Mexico and end in eastern Canada.
The upcoming occurrence has been named the Great North American Eclipse, and many are eager to experience the event as it unfolds. The previous solar eclipse of 2017 was dubbed by many Americans as the Great American Eclipse. Along the path of totality, people basked in the subdued sunlight with picnics, took part in parties and events in public parks, and some even had solar eclipse weddings!
Factors to Keep in Mind about the 2024 Solar Eclipse
One exciting thing about the 2024 upcoming solar eclipse in North America is that the duration of totality will last longer on average than it did during the 2017 eclipse. In 2017, the totality lasted about 2 minutes and 41 seconds in Cerulean, Kentucky. For the 2024 eclipse, the path of totality will be almost twice as wide as in 2017, being 120 miles wide as the totality starts and 100 miles as it departs. According to Forbes, the 2017 solar eclipse was between 60 and 70 miles wide.
What Can Be Seen During a Total Solar Eclipse?
Before the solar eclipse begins and after it exits, the sun’s entire disk burns in the sky with the visible region referred to as the photosphere. During an eclipse, the moon continues to move in front of the sun, up to a point where only a tiny crescent of light can be visible. The sky begins to get dark as night with thin wavy lines known as shadow bands appearing on the ground’s surface. These shadow bands result from irregularities in the earth’s atmosphere.
Once the sun is completely blocked by the moon, only the corona is visible and this is the phase known as “totality.” Right after totality ends and the sun begins to reemerge, you can see the “diamond ring” effect.
Eclipse Glasses: A Must for Safe Eclipse Viewing
American Paper Optics is the leading manufacturer of 3D glasses and other 3D products, and was the only company producing CE- and ISO-certified eclipse safety glasses in North America for the 2017 total eclipse. We can produce custom-printed eclipse glasses, or you can order ready-made eclipse glasses from our website. Order online and be ready for eclipse day well in advance!
