With the countdown to the total solar eclipse ticking down and just two days left until the eclipse, some people are setting up their tents to experience the entire weekend.
“I got sleeping bags, sleeping pads and silk pillowcases,” said Jillian Cole from Dallas. “And of course, I brought my eclipse glasses.”
Cole set up a tent Saturday at Samuel Farm in Mesquite in preparation for the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department's Totality Dallas event.
The solar eclipse celebration will include educational activities, outdoor activities, food trucks, a DJ, and a bounce house.
“We have three kids so we keep them entertained and there's a lot to do and it's a lot of fun running around,” Jamie Fagan said.
She and partner Chris Fagan drove their RV from Rowlett with three girls who were well prepared for what was to come Monday.
“It's a great opportunity. We want to be a part of it,” Chris said.
National Science Foundation experts were on site to educate people on how to view the eclipse safely. They advised people to wear glasses during the partial stage and remove them only during the full stage.
“I always tell people to look away, put their clothes on, and watch the eclipse safely,” said the foundation's Noah Egge.
He said the park is a special viewing spot.
“There are no buildings around, so you have a wide view of the sky,” Egge said.
And even if it's cloudy and you can't see the corona or halo of light, the experience could include animal sightings, Egge said.
“The great thing is that even if you can't see totality specifically, you can still experience it because when it gets dark, the animals think it's night and come out,” he said.
Egge encouraged people to watch the eclipse online if they can't see it in person. The Foundation will host a livestream here.
A map at the entrance to the park indicates the presence of out-of-town and international visitors.
Organizers said they expected about 300 people to attend on Sunday and 4,000 on Monday, with even more expected.
“It's going to be busy here, yeah,” said Angela O'Connell with Dallas Parks and Recreation.
They are keeping an eye out for possible severe weather.
“We are in contact with the National Weather Service and they are sending us daily updates on whether we need to cancel events or have contingency plans in place, but at this time 'Because we're not instructed to do it,' she said.
O'Connell said the camp will end at 5 p.m. Monday and hopes to get it done before the storm hits.
She said organizers were prepared to set up and tear down in the rain, but that most campers should be out by then.
But Cole is ready just in case.
“I brought rain boots and an umbrella just in case. But I'm hoping it doesn't rain. I know it's really cloudy, but I'm hoping for the best,” she said.
A solar eclipse will occur over several hours in North Texas on April 8, 2024. The partial solar eclipse will begin at 12:23 p.m. and end at 3:02 p.m. The total solar eclipse will last just a few minutes, from about 1:40 to 1:44 p.m. Depending on the location, it may be in the afternoon. This event is truly a rare occasion. There won't be another total solar eclipse over the United States until 2044, and the National Weather Service says it won't occur in this region until 2317.
Solar eclipse path map
Would you like to see a solar eclipse? Please use proper eye protection!
Those viewing the solar eclipse on April 8 should view the partial solar eclipse only with proper eye protection.
Looking at the sun during a partial solar eclipse can cause solar retinopathy. Solar retinopathy is a condition that occurs when someone looks directly at the sun and damages the back of the eye or retina. Damage from solar retinopathy can be permanent, leading to a reduction in the overall clarity of a person's vision.
Sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection. Meeting ISO 12312-2 international standards, solar glasses are thousands of times darker than sunglasses.
Astronomer Rick Feinberg told NBC 5 Responds that it's not enough to just look for products that have an ISO designation printed on them. Anyone can print an ISO number on their glasses. Feinberg is a volunteer with the American Astronomical Society's Solar Eclipse Task Force, which maintains this list of solar viewing glass and equipment suppliers and distributors.
Please plan ahead. However, if you can't find enough Eclipse viewers for each person in your family, make a plan to share them.
If you have eclipse glasses from previous eclipses, make sure the filters are not torn, scratched, or punctured. Do not use if the filter is detached from the cardboard or plastic frame.
Even if you don't have glasses or equipment, there are ways to observe the eclipse indirectly. See this page for instructions.
It's safe to see the moon and corona in full without special glasses, but only while the moon completely covers the sun.
