For the eclipse on April 8, 2024, Texas will be one of 15 states in the United States that will be directly in the path of totality. This monumental event will not occur again in the US for another 20 years. So, I am curious, where will YOU be watching?
Image: View Finder at The Dallas Contemporary
Texas has several major cities in the direct path of totality including San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Fort Worth and Dallas. In other words, Texas has a front row seat.
In Dallas, there will be many, many events to watch the eclipse during the 3 minutes and 56 seconds of totality and wanted to share a few ideas with you.
Solar Eclipse at The Trinity River - Hosted by Trinity Park Conservancy, the conservancy behind the much-anticipated Harold Simmons Park, is hosting a free event at the scenic Ron Kirk Bridge and Felix Lozada Gateway. This family-friendly event blends fun, festivity, education, and one of the best views of the eclipse in all of DFW. The event will include music from DJ K Sprinkles, hands-on STEAM activities, eclipse-themed games and prizes, interactive educational booths, and complimentary solar eclipse glasses for the first 3,000 people. STEAM educator Jennifer Stimpson, Ed.D., will guide attendees through the celestial marvel while emphasizing a STEAM education perspective.
Sun, Moon, and You - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) have come together to bring you a one-of-a-kind solar eclipse viewing event and an unforgettable experience at the historic Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. Not only will you be able to witness history but also enjoy special guest Neil deGrasse Tyson, and speakers from NOAA, NASA and NSF plus educational entertainment from Ready, Jet, Go!
Dallas Zoo - Step right into the excitement at the Dallas Zoo – the ideal spot to view the eclipse AND observe how our animals respond to this amazing natural phenomenon!
Here are some safety tips from NASA:
View the Sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality. Tip: hold up a colander to see the crescent moon shadows projected on the ground.
You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the Sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.)
As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright Sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the Sun.
I recently had the chance to meet and speak with Leticia Ferrer who has personally seen 20 total solar eclipses around the world. She has written Texas Solar Eclipses and hosts the Totality Talks podcast. Ms. Ferrer also shared some tips on what to see in Texas. Baily’s Beads is named for astronomer Francis Baily who discovered the occurrence in 1836 near the point of totality where the mountains and valleys of the Moon allow light from the Sun to peek through, creating a ring of beads along the edge. Similarly, there is the Diamond Ring, which appears when only one or two beads are remaining. Texas may experience a rare Double Diamond Ring effect during the eclipse in 2024. Finally, don’t forget to look for planets visible during the eclipse. Venus and Jupiter should be bright and easily visible starting in the final minute before totality and you may even see Saturn and Mars, which will fainter than the other planets.
If you are in Dallas, there is a new short film View Finder by Texas artist Brian Fridge at The Dallas Contemporary. Mr. Fridge combines still and video images created in his studio to simulate deep space, complete with what appears to be galaxies, swirling celestial bodies and black holes over the six-minutes it takes for the Moon to eclipse the Sun in totality. Ad Astra!
Updated April 8, 2024
I wanted to share this picture with Neil deGrasse Tyson in Dallas. Unfortunately, Dr. Tyson could not attend the Sun, Moon and You event in person but I still like this picture of us together at the Cotton Bowl. Hopefully, I will catch up with Dr. Tyson when he returns to the Winspear Opera House in June 2024.
Thank you to NOAA, NASA, ESA, and NSF plus my new friends at Ready, Jet, Go! and Windancer Films. Thankfully, the clouds cleared out at the exact moment of totality.
This was my first total eclipse, but Leticia Ferrer said, once you experience totality, you are hooked. She was right! Let's do this again somewhere in Spain on August 12, 2026. Hope to see you there!
Updated June 19, 2024
For years I have been reading the many books of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and have seen him speak now on three separate occasions. The first time was at age 7 when I brought my friend Ms. Donna Pierce who is affectionally known as the Star Lady. It has always been a personal dream to meet Dr. Tyson and last night my dream came true. I was so happy to meet Dr. Tyson before his talk on The Latest Discoveries in the Universe and even had a chance to ask a question in the post talk Q&A. Thank you for making dreams come true for future scientists inspired by your work.
I am also inspired by the words of Dr. Opal Lee the "Grandmother of Juneteenth", as we celebrate Juneteenth today.
“I have to tell you that none of us are free until we’re all free.”
— Opal Lee
Wishing everyone a happy Juneteenth!
Comentarios