Bill Nye and Experts Unravel Mysteries of the Great American Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse, dubbed the Great American Eclipse, will sweep across North America, casting a shadow that will traverse parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The celestial event will commence with a partial eclipse seen across the broader United States. The eclipse's path of totality, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, will begin at 10:42 a.m. CDT, with the maximum duration of totality varying by location. In some areas of Kentucky, for instance, up to 99.2% of the Sun's surface will be obscured by the Moon, plunging regions into darkness for up to three minutes and seven seconds. Observers are advised to wear approved eclipse glasses to safely view the eclipse's phases, and can also use a pinhole viewer as an alternative.
Various news outlets, including WYMT, CBS News, and Local News Live, will provide extensive coverage of the eclipse. WYMT's coverage is set to begin on Facebook around 2:55 p.m., and they will also broadcast Local News Live's coverage on H&I. CBS News will offer a segment from 1:30 to 4 p.m., focusing on the event from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, Fox West Texas's meteorologist Britton Musall and MSJ Shawn Humphrey will be on location in Brady, Texas, offering a view of the eclipse at 100% totality from Richards Park for those unable to witness it firsthand.
Viewers are encouraged to prepare for the eclipse by acquiring proper eye protection and to anticipate possible weather changes and traffic delays due to the event. This eclipse presents a rare opportunity as the next total solar eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. is not expected until 2044. The duration of totality will peak at different times depending on one's location, with most areas experiencing between 3.5 and four minutes of the total eclipse.
