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Where will you see the total solar eclipse on April 8? There are just a few weeks left to choose your spot to watch the skies darken across a swath of North America, whether by land, sea or air.
For those who live within the 115-mile (185-kilometer) wide path of total darkness, it may be a matter of simply stepping outside and donning special eclipse glasses to watch the spectacle unfold. For the millions of people who are off the road, or those who simply want to improve their chances of clear skies, it could mean hitting the road with a plan of action.
The eclipse reaches the Pacific coast of Mexico in the morning, crosses diagonally across the US from Texas to Maine, and disappears over eastern Canada in the late afternoon. Most of the rest of the continent will see a partial eclipse.
WHERE TO SEE THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
The weather will be key and the spring weather along the way can be dangerous. Mexico and Texas offer the best chances for sunny skies, said retired Canadian meteorologist Jay Anderson.
“There is no guarantee of sunshine anywhere, just better opportunities,” he said.
Anderson studies satellite data from the previous 20 years to calculate how often a location has cloudy weather on any given eclipse day. In addition to Mexico and Texas, he said there are other promising places on the path to totality, particularly along the Great Lakes.
The tip: If you’re flexible, start paying attention to the local weather in 10 days and make your plans based on the three-day forecast. Die-hard eclipse chasers often line up more than one location and make last-minute decisions based on the best forecast, he said.
HOW TO PREPARE LIKE AN ECLIPSE HUNTER
One veteran eclipse chaser recommends choosing a location and turning it into a vacation so that the eclipse is “the icing on the cake” and not the only highlight, just in case things don’t work out.
Tom Schultz will travel from his retirement home in Costa Rica to watch the eclipse from his mother-in-law’s home in Rochester, New York, along with other family members.
“If it rains, we will have this big family reunion,” Schultz said.
Veteran Anne Marie Adkins was able to cross town in San Antonio to see the total eclipse, but she opted to join an astronomer-led tour to Mazatlán, Mexico, betting that skies would be clear there. On other trips she has been thwarted by clouds. For the 2017 US eclipse, she went to Nebraska and had to scramble that day to find better skies.
“It’s a bet. “You never know what you’re going to get,” Adkins said.
Post-eclipse traffic is a particular concern, especially in more rural areas like the Texas Hill Country. Patricia Moore of the Bandera visitor center said last year’s “Ring of Fire” eclipse served as a dress rehearsal for police and other first responders. Tiny Bandera, the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” expects crowds at nearby weekend music festivals.
“After the eclipse it will be a challenge,” he said.
WHERE ARE THE ECLIPSE WATCH PARTIES?
Since the eclipse falls on a Monday, cities and towns along the way have prepared a weekend full of activities and viewing parties to attract visitors. There are a multitude of music festivals and gatherings planned at museums, parks, wineries and other businesses hoping to cash in on the hype.
Niagara Falls has a number of events for days and Fourth of July-sized crowds are expected for the eclipse, said Sara Harvey, spokesperson for Destination Niagara USA.
There are multiple vantage points to view the spectacle from Niagara Falls State Park, and the famous Maid of the Mist tour boats may be operating, weather permitting, he said. Even if it’s cloudy, visitors will get “a beautiful view of the falls,” Harvey said.
In Waco, Texas, festivities will culminate on eclipse day with science-themed activities outside Baylor’s McClane Stadium along what is called Touchdown Alley.
It may be too late to get a cabin on a cruise ship located off the coast of Mexico for the eclipse, but there are other water options, including a ride on the Victorian Princess paddlewheeler on Lake Erie from Erie, Pennsylvania.
If the sky calls, Southwest and Delta have identified flights that will fly along or near the eclipse path. A special Delta flight from Austin to Detroit sold out quickly, prompting the airline to add another from Dallas.
Are you looking for a different place to observe how the sun, moon and Earth align? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host NASA astronauts and other guests. Cedar Point Amusement Park on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, is open during the day. And the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas is hosting a tailgate fundraising party and inviting visitors to watch the zoo’s residents react to the midday darkness.
You can also spend the day visiting the planets. In northern Maine, a scale model of the solar system is on display along nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) of U.S. Route 1. Retired geology professor Kevin McCartney hopes to reveal a new roadside sun 7 meters (23 feet) tall at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on the day of the eclipse. “You won’t miss it,” he said.
Anderson, the meteorology expert, said it’s worth traveling to see the “special magical moment” of a total eclipse: “It’s the Taylor Swift of natural events.”
This story has been published from a news agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.