Coachella Valley residents who want a safe glimpse of the total solar eclipse that will darken large swaths of the nation’s midsection Monday can join amateur astronomers and others for a viewing event at the College of the Desert.
“A solar eclipse is a rare astronomical event that is worth pausing for,” CoD’s Dean of Math & Science Michael Silveira said. “We are excited to hold this event for our students and community because it helps bring education out of the classroom and into the real world. Watching an event like this makes you wonder about the natural world and inspires curiosity.”
The Palm Desert campus will host its viewing session from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the Science Building, 43-500 Monterey Ave.
Anyone from the community is welcome on campus, where School of Math & Science volunteers will provide solar viewers so that attendees can observe the eclipse in progress without risk of eye damage. Information regarding visual protection during an eclipse is available at eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety.
In Southern California, less than half the sun will be shaded at the peak of the eclipse, which will begin over the Pacific Ocean. Over a roughly two-hour period, there will be a complete obscuration of the sun by the moon through the North American continent.
Altogether, 13 states will be in the “path of totality,” according to astronomers. Cities where maximum umbra will occur include Dallas, Texas, Indianapolis, Indiana, Cleveland, Ohio and Rochester, New York.
“During the eclipse, the sun will be in or near solar maximum, when the magnetic field is more like a tangled hairball,” according to a NASA statement. “Streamers will likely be visible throughout the corona. In addition to that, viewers will have a better chance to see prominences, which appear as bright, pink curls or loops coming off the sun.”
According to GreatAmericanEclipse.com, the deepest, longest duration for the moon shadow will be 4.5 minutes over Northern Mexico, just before the shadow is cast on Texas. The eclipse will be readily visible across the United States’ Lower Great Plains, upper Midwest and New England for over an hour, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
“You don’t need to live within the path of totality to see the eclipse,” NASA stated. “About 99% of people who reside in the U.S. will be able to see the partial or total eclipse from where they live. Every contiguous U.S. state, plus parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will experience at least a partial solar eclipse.”
Some segments of the country will be under the lunar shadow, in its entirety, for up to four minutes.
“Because of … the exquisite beauty of the sun’s corona hanging in the suddenly darkened sky, many millions will know that a total solar eclipse is something truly worth seeing,” according to GreatAmericanEclipse.com. “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.”
The last total eclipse across the United States happened on Aug. 21, 2017, when the path of totality swept from Oregon to South Carolina, within a narrow 73-mile wide band. The width of Monday’s path will be closer to 120 miles wide, according to NASA.
“The 2024 eclipse path will pass over more cities and densely populated areas than the 2017 path did,” the agency said. “This will make it easier for more people to see totality.”
There will not be another total solar eclipse in North America until August 2044, officials said.