WHAT IS AN ECLIPSE?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun form a straight line, resulting in the Moon completely blocking the Sun and casting a shadow on the Earth. The next total solar eclipse with a path of totality to cross Indiana will be on April 8, 2024.Before totality begins, you will start to see changes around you. If the Sun is out, you might notice that shadows sharpen and the temperature decreases. To the southwest, you will see the clouds darken as the Moon starts to block the Sun. Faint ripples of fluctuating light, called shadow bands, will begin to appear on the ground. Winds might pick up, or even change direction. In the last phases of the partial eclipse, before totality begins, an eerie light will emerge—this is because the edges of the Sun, the only part visible in the partial eclipse phases, are a different temperature of light. This causes colors to appear “off,”
or more saturated and with more contrast. As totality approaches, a momentary spectacle known as Bailey’s beads emerges. As the moon starts to cover the Sun’s disk, the sunlight passes through the valleys and mountains on the Moon’s edge, creating a series of bright spots that resemble shining beads around the Moon’s silhouette. These beads only occur just before and after the total eclipse phase, creating a stunning visual spectacle for observers on Earth. The first and last beads shine like a bright diamond on a thin ring— this is called the diamond ring effect. Even if your view of the total solar eclipse is obstructed by the clouds, there will still be exciting changes in the environment. Depending on your location relative to the center of the path of totality, it may appear as though there is a “360-degreesunset” around you, deepening as the Moon increasingly blocks the Sun until transitioning into complete darkness. This replication of night can onset behavioral responses in pets and wildlife—
birds may stop singing and start to roost, bees may return to their hives, and bats may begin to forage. In totality, once your eyes adjust, you will start to see the Sun’s corona: a halo of wispy, white plasma surrounding the obscured Sun. The extent of activity in the corona varies on an 11-year cycle, and we are lucky enough to experience a total solar eclipse when it is increasingly active.
IDOE: Check out the resources provided by IDOE HERE.Learning Lab: The Learning Lab has provided a series of short video resources about the Eclipse. You can view them HERE.