Excitement is building across Pennsylvania and a large swath of the country for the spring 2024 solar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible in most of Pennsylvania.
In general, the eclipse will begin around 2:00pm on Monday, April 8th as the moon’s orbit begins to travel in between the sun and earth, appearing as a dark shadow biting into the bright sphere of the sun.
Within the path of totality, the total eclipse phase will last from approximately 3:15pm to 3:20pm as the moon completely covers the sun’s surface. The eclipse will conclude around 4:30pm.
Most of Pennsylvania lies within the 90 percent coverage range, so there will be excellent viewing across the state, weather permitting, even outside the path of totality. (Our area in the West End falls into the 90 – 95% range!!)
You need to protect your eyes to view the eclipse safely.
Looking directly at the sun with the naked eye, through an unfiltered camera lens, or with any kind of standard sunglasses may result in permanent eye injury.
To protect your eyes:
Use eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
Use solar viewers that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face -- during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer).
As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun.
Viewing through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope also requires specific solar filters to protect against eye injury.