If you haven't heard already, now is the time to make your plans for April 8, 2024. An eclipse is coming! And not just any eclipse - a total solar eclipse! And for the first time since 1806, a total solar eclipse is going to happen right here in the NW Columbus area. The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806, and the next will not occur until 2099, so don’t be left in the dark!
Most of the NW Columbus Macaroni Kid audience is in the path of totality like Dublin, Delaware, Hilliard, Powell, Plain City, Marysville and other areas. But Columbus itself is not in the path of totality. Not to fret - Columbus' view will still be over 99%. It is arguable if it is worth it to get to that path of totality or stay home and see the 99.6%. You don't have far to travel to witness it if you aren't directly in the path of totality. If you're deep in the throws of newborns or just can't make it out, be sure to enjoy the partial eclipse right from your backyard! Remember to practice safe sun viewing for your family by getting approved eclipse glasses or by using a pinhole projector. Tips for safety below the events.
Some may enjoy the eclipse from their backyard, while others may want to join a party. So we rounded up a dozen spots around Columbus where you can view this year's solar eclipse. Wherever you decide to view it from, don't miss out - there is not another total solar eclipse in Ohio until 2099.
We've included events leading up to the Solar Eclipse and the day of. Click on the event to go to our calendar for more information.
March 21
March 27
March 28
March 30
April 6
- Fur, Tracks, and an Eclipse: Oh My!
- Eclipse Explorers and Craft
- Nocturnal Adventure for Eclipse Weekend
April 7
April 8
- Eclipse craft
- Solar Eclipse Viewing at the Caverns
- Solar Eclipse Solar-bration
- Blackout The Barn
- Total Eclipse in the Park: Celebrate The Solar Eclipse in Hilliard
- Dublin in the Dark
- Solar Eclipse Celebration! Coffman Park
- Solar Eclipse Celebration!
- Eclipse Viewing Party
- Solar Eclipse Day on the Rooftop
- Total Solar Eclipse in Worthington
- Downtown Delaware—the SPACE to be!
- KidX Total Solar Eclipse Watch Party
- Celebrating the Great American Eclipse and Ohio’s State Parks: A Day of Discovery, Wonder, and Science!
This portion is from the last eclipse in 2017 but it still applies. It was written by: Phil Harrington.
Always remember -- Safety First!
The Sun holds the dubious distinction of being the only celestial object that may actually harm someone who looks at it. What makes looking at the Sun so dangerous? Not only does the Sun shine in visible light, it also emits intense infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Just as ultraviolet radiation causes sunburn after you've been outdoors for an extended period, it also will damage your eyes' retinas ... and at a much faster rate. The human eye only needs be exposed to direct sunlight for a few seconds before permanent eye damage, and even blindness, results.
Rule 1: Never use sunglasses to look at the Sun! They offer no protection.
The only time it is safe to view the Sun directly is during the few fleeting minutes of totality. At all other times, during the partial phases of the eclipse or on any sunny day, we must take precautions. Fortunately, that’s easy to do. And it is also a fun project for kids and parents to do together in the days before the eclipse.
The safest way to view the Sun is to make a pinhole projector using two pieces of cardboard. Punch a small hole, about the diameter of a pencil, in one of the pieces, and glue or tape a piece of white paper on the other. That’s all there is to it! Now, by holding the pieces toward the sky so that sunlight shines through the hole, a tiny image of the Sun will appear on the paper. Although the small image is not as sharp as if it were projected through a telescope, it should be satisfactory for viewing partial phases.
If you find yourself along the path of totality, you and your children will witness first-hand Mother Nature’s great show of all.
But beware! Some experts are predicting that the days surrounding April 8 will be some of the worst traffic days you will experience.
If you happen to find yourself in that shadow, a portion of the Sun will appear covered by the Moon. Just how much of the Sun will be hidden depends on where you are in the shadow. If you happen to be in the exact center of the Moon’s shadow, for a brief moment, the Moon will fully cover the Sun. That moment is called a total solar eclipse.
But why all the excitement? Magic happens at the instant of a total eclipse of the Sun. The world around you changes. The sky turns an especially deep blue, while the horizon takes on an eerie yellow-amber-indigo-gray hue, almost like a 360° sunset. Overhead, bright stars appear midday. Pause and feel the wind. The wind seems to pick up during the partial phases leading up to totality, only to quiet to a dead calm immediately before and during the main event. Animals think that night is coming and go to roost, while the temperature may drop as much as 15°.
Meanwhile, the Sun has disappeared! In its place, we see a black disk surrounded by a glowing halo of pearly white light. The halo is called the corona, the Sun’s thin atmosphere. The corona is only visible during the fleeting moments of a total solar eclipse. With binoculars, it can be seen to extend maybe twice as far as the Sun’s diameter.
Bask in the Moon’s shadow and create a memory that you and your family will share for a lifetime.
About the Author: Phil Harrington writes the monthly Binocular Universe column in Astronomy magazine and is the author of 9 books on astronomy, including Eclipse! and Astronomy for all Ages. He is also an astronomy professor at Suffolk County Community College on Long Island, NY. Visit his website www.philharrington.net to learn more.
NW Columbus Macaroni Kid is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Columbus, Oh. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, giveaways and more. We proudly serve families in Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Powell, West Clintonville, West Worthington, Grandview, Upper Arlington and Plain City! NW Columbus Macaroni Kid is full of useful local information like this PLUS tons of kid-friendly events on our event calendar. Have an event you'd like submitted to our calendar for consideration? Submit an event here. Like what you see here and want to get all the fun delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter for the 411 on local family fun! #CbusMacKid
