Erie, Pennsylvania’s big moment in the spotlight, or total darkness, is coming on April 8 when the city is in the path of totality for an afternoon solar eclipse. This means that for several minutes (from 3:16 to 3:20 p.m.), the moon will align perfectly with the sun to temporarily block out all light.
The first thing you need to know is that this is a BIG deal. This once-in-a-lifetime event is expected to draw as many as 250,000 visitors to the area from around the world. The hotels in the area have been booked solid for years. Gridlock is likely, so my first tip is this:
Watch it where you are. The sun will be high enough in the sky to be viewable anywhere in Erie county. The best place to see the eclipse is, well, wherever you are.
Plan to leave early, stay late. If you are going somewhere or gathering with others to watch the eclipse, get where you are going very early and plan to stay there for a while. Those on the eclipse planning committee in Erie have talked with other cities our size who were in the path of totality in 2017 and have heard that it took 10-12 hours to get traffic moving after the event.
Get proper eye protection. You should not watch the partial phases of the eclipse without ISO-certified eclipse glasses or solar filters. The only time it’s safe to view the eclipse without glasses is during totality, which will be 3 minutes and 41 seconds long. You can purchase glasses at any Country Fair (local convenience store) location throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. Here’s a store locator. P.S. Welder’s helmets work, too!
Take food and water. If you’re not near a place where you can buy or make food, be sure to take some with you, as well as water, in case you are stuck in traffic jams.
Consider taking two wheels. Yes, it could be very cold (even snowing) in April in Erie, but we have had a mild winter, so it might be nice enough to bike ride to your chosen viewing location and avoid all the road congestion.
Buy a solar filter for your camera. Pointing a telephoto lens at the sun without some sort of protection for your gear is a bad idea. A telephoto lens magnifies the intensity of sunlight and could melt your sensor. You can but filters for your smartphone or your digital camera online. Note, these are not good enough to protect your eyes. You should still wear solar glasses. More tips on photographing the eclipse can be found here.
Prepare to be amazed. According to Space.com, “during totality, everything around feels different: birds go crazy, it gets colder, and the Earth itself seems to slow, if just for a moment, as the darkness looms.”
Savor the experience. The next total solar eclipse that can be viewed in the United States won’t occur for more than twenty years. It will be on August 23, 2044, but you’ll have to travel to Canada and/or North or South Dakota to see the same views we’ll have in Erie on April 8.
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