The Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024
Welcome to the RASC Kingston Centre Eclipse site. The contents herein have been curated to provide Eclipse information to the Kingston community and region. Some helpful links are also provided that explore a broader set of Eclipse information.
A Total Solar Eclipse occurs whenever the Sun, the Moon and the Earth align such that the Moon’s shadow is cast on to the surface of the Earth. As viewed from Earth, from within the Path of Totality, it is a majestic display of the Universe in motion and an experience unlike any other. The Moon’s shadow is comprised of two parts. The Umbra is the region of total Eclipse, while the Penumbra is the region of partial Eclipse. The Umbra region is referred to as the “Path of Totality.”
This point cannot be stressed strongly enough, especially if this is the first time you have considered observing a Total Solar Eclipse:
If you are not on the Path of Totality at the moment of totality, you will not experience a Total Solar Eclipse.
The experience that we encourage you to seek is found in the Path of Totality.
For example, if you live in Westport you will have a 99.99% Eclipse, but not a Total Solar Eclipse.
As Maxwell Smart would say “missed it by that much.”
Same for places like Smiths Falls, Sharbot Lake, Tamworth, Marlbank, Stirling. If you are anywhere along the highway 7 corridor you are not in the Path of Totality.
In order to have a Total Solar Eclipse experience, you must position yourself south of the brown line on this map, otherwise you only experience a partial Eclipse. The Path of Totality is only approximately 160km wide. One must be within the boundaries of the Path to experience totality.
IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY.
What’s the difference between a total and partial Solar eclipse?
A partial eclipse means that the moon is only partially blocking direct sunlight from the sun, and that direct sunlight is shining on you at all times. It is never safe to look towards the sun at any time without eye protection such as eclipse glasses when direct sunlight is reaching your eyes, and that is the case during a partial Solar Eclipse.
A Total Solar Eclipse has phases of being in partial eclipse before and after totality.
In the lead-up to Totality, it is never safe to look towards the sun at any time without eye protection such as eclipse glasses, and the same holds true after totality ends.
But for the time that the Sun is Totally Eclipsed by the Moon, it is safe to look towards the Sun.
And it is in these moments that we see the awesome display of the Suns Corona shining a ghostly white against a darkened twilight sky.
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