APRIL 8, 2024 | TOLEDO, OHIO
THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE
The next total solar eclipse to visit North America will be April 8, 2024. The duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017. The 2017 total solar eclipse was witnessed by about 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina, and the upcoming 2024 Great American Eclipse is sure to be witnessed by many millions more.
In the US, totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT on April 8, 2024.
If you’ve never seen a total solar eclipse before, put it on your bucket list and plan to experience a whole weekend of programming leading up to the historic event in the Toledo Region!
Visiting Toledo
In Toledo the partial eclipse will begin at 1:56 p.m. EDT and the total eclipse begins at 3:13 p.m. EDT. Start times and duration will differ depending on where within Toledo you choose to be. The duration will likely be somewhere around 1 minute and 47 seconds and the partial eclipse will end at 4:26 p.m.
If you are heading to Toledo, you can map out these exact times by using this tool.
Due to the expected influx of visitors, we encourage you and your family to come early and stay late while you experience our world-class attractions and all the events and programming we have planned for you!
Estimates show that anywhere from 139,000-556,000 visitors will be in Ohio during the total solar eclipse. Here in Toledo, the population of Lucas County could double on April 8. On the day of the event, there will be traffic, limited parking, and crowds.
The Ohio Department of Transportation created an interactive map detailing four different scenarios of what the roads will look like on April 8. Scenario 1 showcases what an influx of 150,000 people would look like, scenario 2 details what 350,000 people would look like, and so forth. View the map here.
Viewing Totality in Ohio
Totality will occur for much of Ohio! Be sure to get inside the path of totality for the full experience.
For eclipse viewing, mobility is essential especially in case of inclement weather. Ohio has many excellent highways and the infrastructure for eclipse visitors. Within Ohio, Interstate 75 provides north-south access from Michigan and southern Ohio to Toledo and Interstate 90 parallels Lake Erie from Toledo to Cleveland and Ashtabula.
The total solar eclipse visits Ohio on April 8, 2024 beginning at 3:08 pm EDT with the final exit of the Moon’s shadow from the state at 3:19 pm EDT. Through Ohio, the speed of the Moon’s shadow will accelerate from about 1995 miles per hour to about 2290 miles per hour.
As the total solar eclipse in 2017 proved, the eclipse will be a magnet for millions of people across the nation. The number of visitors expected in Ohio is anywhere from 139,000 - 556,000 and it is estimated that there are 7,275,000 individuals living inside the path of totality.
Information and graphics gathered from greatamericaneclipse.com/Ohio and Ohio Department of Development
Tips for Having a Safe Eclipse Experience
1. Plan ahead | Know where you are going to watch the eclipse Get to your destination early and try to spend eclipse night at or near your viewing location. Plan for your children and pets during your trip. Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
2. Pack your patience and fill your tank | Expect the highways and freeways to be extra busy in the aftermath of totality, and consider staying an additional day to avoid delays. Take a paper map, device chargers, emergency kits, extra food and water, and cash.
3. Create a family communication plan | Ensure you know where to meet up if you get separated from friends or family. Make sure children have identification with your contact number with them in case you are separated.
Learn more about having a safe eclipse experience at Eclipse.Ohio.Gov
Eclipse Glasses
No matter where you obtained your glasses, it is important to make sure they are ready to protect your eyes on eclipse day. Below are some steps to follow from the American Astronomical Society.
1. Never look at an eclipse without proper eclipse glasses. Remember you must take your glasses on and off while looking at the ground. It’s unsafe to put your glasses on or take them off while looking at the sun and make sure your eclipse glasses comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard
2. If you didn’t buy your eclipse glasses directly from a vetted vendor, there’s no way to tell just by looking at them whether eclipse glasses are genuinely safe, but it’s easy to tell if they are not safe.
3. Before April 8th, put them on indoors and look around. You shouldn’t be able to see anything through them, except perhaps very bright lights, which should appear very faint through the glasses. If you can see anything else, such as household furnishings or pictures on the wall, your glasses aren’t dark enough for solar viewing.
4. If your glasses pass the indoor test, take them outside on a sunny day, put them on, and look around again. You still shouldn’t see anything through them, except perhaps the Sun’s reflection off a shiny surface or a puddle, which again should appear very faint.
5. If your glasses pass that test too, glance at the Sun through them for less than a second. You should see a sharp-edged, round disk (the Sun’s visible “face”) that’s comfortably bright. Depending on the type of filter in the glasses, the Sun may appear white, bluish white, yellow, or orange.
If your glasses pass all three tests, they are probably safe. But if you aren't totally confident, use them sparingly. During the April 8 solar eclipse, look at the Sun through the glasses for no more than 2 or 3 seconds every 5 minutes or so. For more information on eye safety visit head to this resource page published by the American Astronomical Society.
Recycling Efforts for Eclipse Glasses
In the true spirit of community collaboration, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Destination Toledo, Imagination Station, and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library are uniting to celebrate this celestial event and champion a sustainable approach to watching the eclipse.
From April 8th to April 18th, specially designated collection boxes will be placed at all Toledo-Lucas County Libraries and Imagination Station, allowing individuals to drop off their glasses. Organizations hosting larger watch parties can also request these boxes for their specific events at ktlcb.org.
All returned glasses will be vetted by volunteers during a sorting event that will be held at Imagination Station on Earth Day, April 22. Those in good quality will be donated to Astronomers Without Borders, supporting their mission and fostering global collaboration in appreciating the wonders of the cosmos. Those glasses that are a bit more beat up will be recycled locally.
Related News Articles & Links
Sun to be overshadowed by moon in 2024 | Toledo Blade
'Elope at the Eclipse' offers a once-in-a-lifetime wedding opportunity
Groups make plans to sustainably recycle eclipse-watching glasses after April total solar eclipse
The Best Places to See the Total Solar Eclipse in the Midwest
Eclipse Shopping
Check out the 419 Ale Trail!
Taste your way through Northwest Ohio's craft beverage scene on the 419 Ale Trail, while you are in the are for the Great American Eclipse!
A total of 32 breweries and craft beverage makers, all located within the 419-area code, are participating in this year’s 419 Ale Trail. Complete details on how to sign up to begin the adventure can be found at www.419AleTrail.com.
Participants who sign up for the 419 Ale Trail earn points as they move along the trail that can be redeemed for a number of available prizes, plus receive entries into a grand prize drawing at the end of the year-long trail that runs through June 17, 2024. This year’s prizes can be collected from identified Prize Hubs. A number of breweries will provide special discounts to redeem on the trail as well.