Medina County residents will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the sun, creating a dark shadow on Earth. This is a rare and spectacular event that can only be seen from a narrow path of totality that crosses the globe.
Medina County is one of the few places in Ohio that will be in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse. This means that people in Medina County will be able to see the sun’s atmosphere, or corona, shining around the moon during the eclipse. The corona is normally invisible to the naked eye, but becomes visible during a total solar eclipse.
The 2024 eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible in Ohio since 1806. The next total solar eclipse in Ohio will not happen until 2099. Therefore, this is a rare chance for Medina County residents to experience this natural phenomenon.
In Medina City, the eclipse will begin at 1:58 p.m. EDT and reach totality at 3:13 p.m. The duration of totality will be about 3 minutes and 26 seconds. The eclipse will end at 4:29 p.m. The sun will be at an altitude of 49 degrees and an azimuth of 222 degrees at the time of totality. This means that the sun will be high in the southeast sky during the eclipse.
To safely view the eclipse, people need to wear special glasses or filters that block out most of the sun’s light. Looking directly at the sun without protection can cause permanent eye damage or blindness. Ordinary sunglasses or homemade filters are not enough to protect the eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.
Ohio has created a website with more information about the 2024 eclipse, including where to view it from Ohio’s public lands. The website also has educational resources and activities for teachers and students to learn more about eclipses and astronomy.
The 2024 eclipse is expected to attract millions of visitors and tourists to Ohio and other states in the path of totality. The last total solar eclipse in the US was in 2017 and drew an estimated 215 million people to watch it. The 2024 eclipse will be even more accessible and visible to more people than in 2017.
Medina County residents are encouraged to mark their calendars and plan ahead for this historic event. The 2024 eclipse will be a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone who witnesses it.