This is part one of a two-part recap on the series about the upcoming total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. Villagers are very fortunate to be directly aligned with the path.
A solar eclipse is when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun and blocks the Sun’s light. The April 8 event will begin with what’s called the partial stage, when the moon has not yet fully covered the sun, giving the giant star a crescent shape. This can last between 70 and 80 minutes in most places. About a minute before totality, which will occur at approximately 1:50 pm DST, moving, wavy lines of alternating light and dark can be seen on the ground and along walls. About 10 to 15 seconds before totality, the solar corona (the outer atmosphere of the Sun) becomes visible. Together with the single jewel of light from the Sun, it creates the well-known “Diamond Ring” effect. As the diamond ring fades, the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere (Sun’s Corona) becomes more prominent. It is visible as a faint ring of rays surrounding the silhouetted Moon. About five seconds before totality, “Baily’s Beads” appear. They are little bead-like blobs of light at the edge of the Moon created by the sunlight passing through gaps in the mountains and valleys on the Moon’s surface. Then the sky is dark and the sun appears like a glowing black orb. Those of us in HSV will have totality for 3 minutes and 54 seconds. These events then repeat in reverse order.
The path of the shadow of the Moon will be 117 miles wide and will make its way to the Northeast at 1,564 mph. Hot Springs Village is in the path expected to get a maximum view of the total eclipse. Here are the details of the timing:
Begins: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Maximum: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Ends: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Duration: 2 hours, 38 minutes
Totality: 3 minutes, 54 seconds
All times shown are local time
Remember, NEVER look at the sun with your naked eyes. Permanent damage to your eyesight, and even blindness, may result. ALWAYS wear certified solar viewing glasses (ISO 12312-2 international standard compliant) when viewing the sun before, during, and after an eclipse. The ONLY time it is safe to look toward the sun with the naked eye is during the brief period of totality at the height of a total eclipse of the sun.
Next week, the second part of the recap will cover how to safely view and/or photograph the eclipse.
By HSV Camera Club and Village Stargazers
Click here to read “2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE SEMINAR AND Q & A.”
Click here to visit the HSV Camera Club website.
Click here to visit the Hot Springs Village Stargazers Facebook Page.
Click here to visit the official Hot Springs Village POA Facebook Page.
We are glad you dropped in to visit Hot Springs Village Gazette. Please comment below if you like; we love hearing your opinions. Thank you for keeping the comments polite and on topic. Please use your first and last real name.
We provide news and promote local businesses, events, and organizations! Let us know if we can help. We also accept opinion pieces and articles from guest authors.
We can be contacted through this website; click the contact button and let us know your thoughts. Be sure to bookmark this site and come back to visit with us often, as our content frequently changes. If you are an HSV Property Owner, click here to visit and join a private property owner Facebook Group. Thanks!
