Editor's note: This article Dallas Morning News coverage of the 2024 total solar eclipse.Learn more about dallasnews.com/eclipse.
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America. Most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area is in a totality zone, giving residents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the moon blocking the sun for just under four minutes.
Are you in the best location to observe a solar eclipse? It might be worth checking out. Dallas will not enter the path of a total solar eclipse again until 2317.
Where can I see the solar eclipse in D-FW?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow that partially or completely blocks the sun's light. The Washington D-FW area witnessed a partial solar eclipse known as the “Ring of Fire” in October, but April's total solar eclipse will be even more awe-inspiring. During totality, or the time when the moon appears to completely cover the sun, daytime light dims, temperatures drop, and stars may be visible in the midday sky.
Dallas is one of the largest cities in the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse, which will hit all of North America on April 8th.
On April 8, the eclipse will move from Mexico to the northeastern United States and Canada. The first totality event is expected to occur along Mexico's Pacific Coast at 11:07 a.m. Pacific Time or 1:07 p.m. Central Time, weather permitting.
In Dallas, the moon will begin covering the sun around 12:23 p.m., and totality will begin around 1:40 p.m. and end just under four minutes later. The moon will then move away from the sun and the spectacle will end around 3:02 p.m. The exact timing will vary depending on your location within the metropolis.
Several Texas cities will go on the path to totalization, including Dallas, most of Fort Worth, Waco, Temple, most of Austin, and parts of San Antonio. Denton is outside the path of wholeness.
Even people outside the path of totality will see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon partially covers the sun. But experiencing totality is worth the effort, said Mary Urquhart, a planetary scientist at the University of Texas at Dallas who witnessed it in Tennessee in 2017.
“It was a really profound experience for me,” Urquhart said. “I know that's the case for a lot of people. The change in environment can be very dramatic.”
Cities closer to the center of the road have longer total periods. Dallas is expected to take approximately 3 minutes and 52 seconds. In Waco, which is closer to the midline, it could take about 4 minutes and 12 seconds.
Urquhart's advice for area residents within the pass is to get outside and look up, avoiding tall buildings and trees to get a clear view.
Several facilities in North Texas will host solar eclipse viewing events, including the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas Arboretum. Tickets for the Arboretum are already on sale. Tickets for the Perot Museum will go on sale December 13th for museum members and December 15th for non-members.
More events will be announced in the coming months.
Eclipse safety
Viewing a solar eclipse without eye protection is dangerous. The brightness of the sun can damage your eyes in seconds. It is safe to view the eclipse without glasses during a total solar eclipse, but not before or after.
Many online listings for eclipse glasses may be counterfeit, but a list of safe options is available on the American Astronomical Society website. Glasses must comply with International Organization for Standardization safety guidelines. (The back of the glasses must say that they meet ISO 12312-2 requirements.) Sunglasses are not sufficient protection.
Urquhart said local residents can observe the eclipse indirectly by punching holes in cardboard, using colanders, or holding crackers to project images of the eclipse onto the ground or paper. It is said that it can also be done.
Traffic impact in North Texas
Abraham Benavidez, a public administration professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, said he doesn't expect there to be any major changes in traffic the weekend before the eclipse. Visitors are expected to arrive gradually over the next few days until April 8th.
Benavidez said the main traffic concern during the eclipse is drivers stopping on highways or pulling over to the side of the road to observe.
In 2017, some state transportation agencies used road signs to share warning messages such as “No parking on highways due to solar eclipse” and “Solar eclipse Monday, delays possible.” Tony Hartzl, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said the agency plans to post messages focused on the eclipse on bulletin boards across the state, although the exact wording is still being determined.
Once the totality event ends, and after that the moon moves completely away from the sun, eclipse watchers will jump in their cars and hit the highways, leading to massive delays and stop-and-go traffic, Benavidez said. Ta.
Hartzell said TxDOT's Dallas district has maintenance crews on standby to assist law enforcement and respond to any issues following the eclipse.
Benavidez's biggest advice is to arrive early and stay late. If you're traveling to see the eclipse, consider staying an extra day rather than leaving on Monday night, he said, and be sure to fill up before you leave.
Aditi Ramakrishnan is a science reporting fellow at the Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. News makes all editorial decisions.
