We’re just a few days away from a once in many life-times event.
On Monday April 8th a total eclipse of the sun will pass through southern Ontario for the first time in 400 years and the last time in 375 years.
In Bancroft an almost total eclipse of the sun will happen. The eclipse will reach a maximum of 97.4% , meaning the sun will be almost entirely covered by the moon.
For those who want to experience “totality” its not far away, with Belleville being in ‘the path of totality’. Totality is when the moon completely covers the sun for just a couple of minutes.
There are some unique things that can only happen if experiencing the eclipse in ‘totality’.
According to the Belleville Royal Astronomical society: “Your surroundings will start to darken as if the sun were setting in the middle of the day. Temperatures will drop and birds will go to roost thinking night is coming”
Nasa says, “if you are in the path of totality, you may be able to see a 360 degree sunset. You may also be able to see some particularly bright stars or planets in the darkened sky. An eerie silence will settle around you. Nasa adds that ‘many people have a deep emotional response when the Sun goes into totality’
Dr Oletha Macintyre, a former astronaut candidate originally from Hastings Highlands had something similar to say:
“If you are close to the path of totality and you can get there I have heard that its really worth it. That there’s something really special and magical about that moment”
According to Nasa, during totality, you may remove your eclipse glasses and look at the total eclipse safely with the naked eye. Viewers may then be able to see the chromosphere (a thin circle of pink around the Moon) and the corona (the outer solar atmosphere, appearing as streams of white light).
Nasa also says:Be vigilant to protect your eyes and put your eclipse glasses back on before totality ends. Totality may last only a minute or two in some locations.
They stress to “Make sure your eclipse glasses are back on before the first flash of sunlight appears around the edges of the Moon”
For those who are interested in eclipse stats in our region you can check it out at
from time and date.com
some stats here:
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BANCROFT ECLIPSE INFO
Global Event:Total Solar Eclipse
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| Local Type: | Partial Solar Eclipse in Bancroft, Ontario |
| Begins: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 2:08 pm |
| Maximum: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 3:22 pm 0.974 Magnitude |
| Ends: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 4:33 pm |
| Duration: | 2 hours, 25 minutes |
Max View in Belleville, Ontario
| Global Event: | Total Solar Eclipse |
| Local Type: | Total Solar Eclipse in Belleville, Ontario |
| Begins: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 2:08 pm |
| Maximum: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 3:22 pm 1.004 Magnitude |
| Ends: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 4:33 pm |
| Duration: | 2 hours, 25 minutes |
| Totality: | 2 minutes, 4 seconds |