by Jeff McClure

In Salado on Monday, April 8, 2024, at about 12:19 p.m. (CDT), the sun will begin to disappear. At 1:36 p.m. night will fall over the village, the stars will come out, and a profound sense of awe will be felt by all those who are fortunate enough to experience this rare event. For three minutes and forty-six seconds the moon will almost exactly block the sun from the perspective of any observer in a 120-mile-wide path along a centerline that enters Texas at Piedras Negras at 1:27 p.m., and leaves Texas as it crosses the Red River northwest of Clarksville at 1:49 p.m. As the sun’s final edge disappears and again as it begins to emerge from behind the moon there is a chance to see the “diamond ring” effect as the last or first sunlight is channeled between mountains on the moon.

If this is your first total solar eclipse, experienced eclipse chasers recommend that you not attempt to capture it with a picture or a video. Rather, look around you as well as at the eclipse. It is a moving experience easily missed if you are focused on your phone or camera.

The April 8 eclipse will be the last in the U.S. for this century, so you don’t want to miss it, but DO NOT look at the sun during the partial eclipse phase unless you are using certified solar glasses or certified solar filters on a camera or telescope. Old film, regular camera filters, or other non-certified filters will not block out the invisible ultraviolet light that can be the most damaging. If you don’t have certified glasses, poke a small hole through a piece of cardboard or aluminum foil and project the sun through it onto a flat surface. Enjoy the experience, but don’t permanently damage your eyes while doing so.

Pace Park in Salado will offer unobstructed views of the solar eclipse as well as parking. There are many other places throughout the village that have parking and unobstructed view. Do not just pull over on the side of the road, especially I-35.