Samhi C.

skc5098@psu.edu

Features Editor

What is a Solar Eclipse? 

If you are like me, in spite of having heard the words “Solar Eclipse” on repeat for the last couple of months, you might not know exactly what all the fuss is about. A solar eclipse occurs when our Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking out most of the light from the Sun in the middle of the day. To go further, there are four types of solar eclipses. 1) A total eclipse which occurs every eighteen-ish months. 2) An annular eclipse which occurs once or twice a year. 3) A hybrid eclipse, which is much rarer than the other types, and occurs when an eclipse goes through phases of both annularity and totality. 4) A partial eclipse which occurs once or twice a years, which are rather unnoticeable because the moon blocks a small portion of the sun and the sun’s light is bright enough to juxtapose the blocking. 

Why is the Total Solar Eclipse Special? 

During a regular day, because the center of the sun is so much brighter, the outer particles, unfortunately called the “corona”, are not particularly visible. But during Total Eclipses, because the center of the sun is blocked out by the moon, the corona becomes more visible and is able to be seen and studied by scientists and other individuals who are interested. 

Why is Erie getting So Much Attention? 

Okay, so you know what an eclipse is now. But why is it that people are flocking to Erie for it? Turns out that when totality occurs, it is most noticeable from a narrow portion of Earth that is referred to as the “path of totality” and on April 8, that path of totality will include Erie, Pennsylvania. 

Should We Be Excited? 

Well, I cannot speak for you, but I for one will take a lot of pride in telling people that I was living in Erie on April 8, 2024. The last time Pennsylvania experienced a Total Eclipse was decades ago. This is a really rare thing, people. So go get yourself some eclipse glasses and be a part of this remarkable moment in Erie history. Or if you are like me, just tell people you lived in Erie on April 8, 2024 and spend the day sleeping in. Either/or works just fine. If you are not excited about the eclipse, be excited that we get a much needed day off of classes and work.