By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – With the solar eclipse taking place Monday, people across the country are preparing for their viewing experience.
Illinois State University’s ‘resident’ astronomer and Planetarium Director Tom Wilmitch will be among the many curious spectators who will travel to Southern Illinois and the so-called ‘zone of totality’ for Monday’s solar eclipse. While a full solar eclipse hasn’t been seen in North America since February 1979, Wilmitch said the eclipse may look more ominous than people may think.
“It’s not like at sunset – in twilight and sunset the colors are all nice and warm, the red rays of the sun are shining still,” Wilmitch explained. “During an eclipse when the light dims down, it just goes this dull, flat gray. It’s really creepy, it’s like ‘what has happened, have I died?'”
Listen to Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn’s full discussion with Wilmitch here:
The total eclipse will be visible in totality within a band across the contiguous US, starting in Oregon and ending in South Carolina, touching 14 states. Despite the entire eclipse taking approximately two hours, Wilmitch explained why the peak of the eclipse will only last a few minutes.
“This thing is gonna sweep across the country. The shadow of the moon, we’ve have to remember the moon is moving between the earth and the sun covering the face of the sun, but we’re riding on the spinning earth,” said Wilmitch. “So as a result, that shadow is sweeping across the country at like 2000 miles an hour, this 70 mile diameter shadow.”
The peak of the eclipse will happen around 1:20 p.m. on Monday. Wilmitch also said not to worry if you miss this eclipse – we’re due for another one in 2024.
For more eclipse talks, listen to Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn speak with Gordon Telepun, an eclipse enthusiast here:
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
