Minnesotans Disappointed as Solar Eclipse Viewing Hopes Dimmed

Every few years, the United States gets to witness a solar eclipse, and there's one coming up on Monday, April 8th. The total eclipse will cross the United States, but Minnesota is not in the path of totality so we wouldn't experience the full eclipse.

Many have already secured their protective glasses and are eagerly anticipating this celestial event. However, it's turning out that it might not be as spectacular as we hoped, and we might end up missing out on much of the show.

The eclipse is set to start around noon on April 8th, reach its highest point by 2:00 pm, and wrap up shortly after 3:00 pm. However, it seems we might be in for quite a letdown.

What Is An Eclipse?

There are two types of eclipses: solar and lunar.

According to NASA experts, "During a lunar eclipse, Earth gets in the way of the Sun’s light hitting the Moon. That means that during the night, a full moon fades away as Earth’s shadow covers it up.

"A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned in the same plane, and the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, as explained by Live Science. This phenomenon results in "evening-like darkness" during the middle of the day.

While Minnesota isn't directly in the path of the April 8th solar eclipse, Southern Minnesota was expected to experience 75-80% coverage, with the northern region expecting around 60-70% coverage.

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Sadly, Many people might not get the experience they're hoping for, but you should still get the eyewear just in case.

Do You Still Need To Get Protective Eyewear?

Prevent Blindness cautions that viewing an eclipse without proper protection can cause serious eye damage.

They advise using Solar Eclipse Glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard or Welder's Glass Number 14.

Why Minnesotans Might Be Disappointed With The Solar Eclipse

Cloudy skies are forecasted for Monday across most of the state and National Eclipse says even "a few stray clouds" can ruin the big moment. Chances are, we'll still observe the event, but if heavy cloud cover persists, it won't be nearly as remarkable.

Keep an eye on the forecast and keep your fingers crossed for clear skies because the next solar eclipse is not expected until August 23, 2044.