By: Emma Rasmussen
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)- A total solar eclipse will make its way through Arkansas on April 8th shadowing parts of the state in complete darkness for a few minutes in the afternoon.
An eclipse occurs when the Moon aligns itself between the Earth and the Sun, effectively blocking sunlight to parts of Earth. For this to happen though, several things must occur. First, the Moon must be positioned in the direction of the Sun, which can occur once a month when the moon is reaching its “New Moon” phase. Next, the shadow of the Moon during its New Moon phase needs to be able to land on the Earth’s surface, which is only likely to occur twice a year. Finally, the Moon needs to be close enough to the Earth’s orbit so that it is of equal or greater size than the sun, totally covering it.
While eclipses seem common, Dr. Bret Darby Lehmer, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas, explained that for Arkansas, it’s a rarity.
“Solar eclipses happen in small portions of the Earth, so for a total eclipse to happen near Arkansas is much more rare (maybe a couple times every hundred years or so),” said Lehmer.
A path of complete totality will run through a majority of Arkansas, leaving cities like Little Rock, Hot Springs, and Conway in the dark for a few minutes. Fayetteville will only see a partial eclipse. Lemhar said he recommends those wanting to truly experience the eclipse to travel outside of Fayetteville, but for those who can not, to obtain a pair of eclipse glasses. Without eclipse glasses, Lehmer said it may be difficult to even notice an eclipse happening.
“With the glasses, you will be able to see a dark disk, the Moon, covering some portion of the Sun- as if a bite has been taken out of the Sun,” Lehmer said.
As Arkansas does not experience many total eclipses, Lehmer reviewed some safety measures. He warns against staring directly at the eclipse without eye protection and suggests people purchase eclipse-specific glasses. Lehmer also recommends not looking at the sun through binoculars or a telescope, unless it is equipped to properly handle solar-specific filters.
There will be a period of time when viewers can look at the totally eclipsed Sun, or when the Sun is fully covered by the moon. This time period will be safe to view for a few moments, but other than that eye protection is highly recommended.
In celebration of the eclipse, groups and businesses in Fayetteville will host many eclipse-related events. On Thursday, Mount Sequoyah will have an Eclipse Food Festival that will feature many local food businesses. On the day of the eclipse, the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks will host a viewing party.