Tag: solar eclipse

Watching the 2024 solar eclipse was a transportation adventure

DORVAL, Québec — I needed a big sky, and I was willing to stand outside a remote, chilly train station for hours to get it.

A total solar eclipse happened in the skies here, just outside of Montreal, on Monday (April 8). The sights of the bigger city would have been incredible, but so too would’ve been the deep crowds. 

Based on my experiences chasing “Manhattanhenge” twice in New York City last year, bathrooms, elbow room and sightlines would have been at a premium. So when my husband objected to being in big crowds during eclipse planning, I agreed.

Related: I’m taking the train to see the 2024 solar eclipse in Canada. Here’s why I’m riding the rails

My husband and I live in Ottawa, Ontario, which would have just shy of 99% totality on April 8 as the moon passed over the sun. That’s good, but we Canadians wanted more, as we missed a chance to see totality in August 2017 in favor of Coldplay tickets in Toronto. (No regrets, especially as the band mentioned that solar eclipse mid-show.)

Fearing road traffic, at first my husband and I booked tickets to seek totality by train. Our original itinerary brought us west toward Toronto, but the weather forecast got fiercely cloudy for all Ontario stations the day before the big event. 

So, late on Sunday (April 7), crowd and cloud conscious, we made a last-minute interprovincial ticket change east, to the only other eclipsed train station near us, aside from Montreal’s urban zone: Dorval. It’s a few minutes away by shuttle from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, which meant a day of both trainspotting and planespotting was in store for us. And if we were lucky, eclipse-spotting, too.

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NYC/Hudson Valley have best forecast for viewing eclipse

We’re almost there.

In just two days, the solar eclipse finally arrives in New York. Are you planning on heading to Upstate New York to view the total eclipse? You might want to rethink your plan after reading the forecasts and go with a view of the partial eclipse instead.

Meteorologists continue to refine their forecasts for the total solar eclipse, and now have a pretty good idea of where the spectacle will be most (and least) visible. Based on those forecasts it looks like the New York City area and Hudson Valley will be treated to clear skies.

Here are the latest forecasts:

Where will the solar eclipse be visible?

Federal forecasters said Saturday afternoon that the best chances for clear viewing of the total eclipse are in northern New England. There is also a possibility of clear viewing from northern Arkansas to central Indiana, the National Weather Service said, “but this is the area of greatest uncertainty due to potential high clouds.”

For the Hudson Valley and NYC in the partial eclipse zone, Monday should see sunny and clear skies, according to the National Weather Service. The temperatures are expected to be a warm 61 degrees, almost feeling like the beginning of summer, which are practically perfect conditions for eclipse viewing.

Sunday and Monday look partly sunny and warm. Friday and Saturday’s high temperatures could reach 48 degrees, with low temperatures expected to drop to 38 degrees.

“Cities like Los Angeles, El Paso, New York City, Boston and Raleigh should all have nice views of the eclipse from start to finish,” according to AccuWeather lead long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said.

What will the forecast be in Western and Northern New York?

Unfortunately for folks in the path of totality, clouds may impede viewing “from Texas into

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Some Arkansas hotels charging 10 times normal rates before eclipse

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Those looking for a hotel in Arkansas might experience some sticker shock if they plan a trip the first weekend of April.

The Natural State is expecting a huge influx of visitors for the eclipse on April 8 and hotels in the path of totality are aiming to capitalize on it.

Where can I get solar eclipse glasses?

Jeff Chastain is the Communications Director for the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau and he said he’s been told there is a potential draw of 100,000 or more additional people to the capital city on the day of the eclipse.

“We think this is going to be the biggest tourism event that is going to happen in our history,” Chastain explained. “The biggest question we’re getting right now is are your hotels sold out.”

A quick search online can reveal exactly how much the price differs anywhere in the path of totality. The price change is just one part of “eclipse capitalism” some hotels are using. Certain places won’t even let you get a room unless you commit to staying multiple nights.

Cities and towns across Arkansas are saying they have room for guests, but depending on where you look, the night before the eclipse is either sold out or being sold expensively.

‘Considerably frightened’: How Arkansans reacted during previous total solar eclipses

Calling or looking online, people can find some places charging three, six, or even 10 times what they have listed for the same room a week earlier. For example, OYO Townhouse in Jacksonville is charging $593 for a room on eclipse weekend that can be reserved for $52 this weekend.

Jacksonville Mayor Jeff Elmore is a small business owner himself and said there’s a fine line to walk when capitalizing on a

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46 Hotels, Campgrounds And Yurts In The Path Of Totality

On Monday, April 8, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America, the like of which have not been seen since 1806. However, to experience up to 4 minutes 26 seconds of spine-tingling totality—darkness in the day and the chance to look at the sun’s spectacular corona with the naked eye—you must be in the path of totality (the yellow track on the map below).

By now, this is an open secret. Although many Americans have no conception of the path of totality (which is just 115 miles wide and a product of the moon’s shadow), there are plenty who do—and many of the hotels have been booked. Or, at least, that is the received wisdom. The reality is likely very different.

Scare Stories

Many hotels do not put their full inventory online, so a web-based search is not going to uncover as many gaps as do exist (get on your phone and call them!). It’s also true that scare stories in the media are dissuading people from trying to book trips into the path of totality.

There are plenty of hotels, campgrounds and other lodging options left in the path of totality that can be booked online. They may not be low priced—and availability will likely be spotty—but there are dozens of potential options that have passed across my desk in the past few days.

Note: before booking double-check that the location you have chosen is within the path of totality (or close by if you’re happy to drive into the path on April 8) by entering the address into Xavier Jubier’s Interactive Google Map.

MORE FROM FORBES9 Very Helpful Websites To Check

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National Geographic lists eclipse at Niagara Falls as a top 2024 adventure

Niagara Falls, N.Y. — Upstate New Yorkers won’t have to journey far to experience one of this year’s top-rated travel adventures.

National Geographic has named the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse at niagara-falls/”Niagara Falls as one of the coolest adventures of 2024. It marked the world-famous waterfall’s second stunning eclipse endorsement: NASA will send astronauts, scientists and eclipse experts to Niagara Falls for the big celestial show.

The total solar eclipse will appear over New York on the afternoon of April 8 as it crosses North America. The moon will block out the sun, darkening the midday sun and leaving a glowing corona ring around the moon.

If the weather cooperates, Niagara Falls will be among the best places in Upstate New York to see the eclipse: The Buffalo area is set to experience 3 minutes and 45 seconds of totality.

New York hasn’t been in the path of total solar eclipse in nearly 100 years.

On the U.S. side of Niagara Falls, National Geographic said Terrapin Point, Prospect Point and the Niagara Falls Observation Tower will be “prime viewing areas”. On the Canadian side of the falls, the magazine encouraged travelers to catch the eclipse from Table Rock.

“A side bonus: The sunny-day rainbow that hovers above the falls will become pink,” National Geographic added.

Niagara Falls State Park is teaming up with NASA to celebrate the eclipse from April 4 through April 8. Astronauts and other scientists will host free events at public libraries, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, the Aquarium of Niagara and beyond.

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Stargazers already booking hotels for 2024 eclipse

Sky-gazers across North America are in for a treat in 2024 when a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The highly anticipated celestial event doesn’t occur until April 8, but eclipse fans are already booking hotels within the path of totality, and experts suggest making plans now so as not to miss out.

That’s likely because a total solar eclipse won’t be visible across the contiguous US again until August 2044. (It’s been nearly six years since the “Great American Eclipse” of 2017.)

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming eclipse.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun’s face.

Those within the path of totality, or locations where the moon’s shadow will completely cover the sun, will see a total solar eclipse. People outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon only blocks part of the sun’s face.

During a total solar eclipse, the sky will darken as it would at dawn or dusk, and there are several stages of the eclipse that sky-gazers anticipate.

Since the moon doesn’t suddenly appear between Earth and the sun, the event begins with a partial eclipse that causes the sun to resemble a crescent. Depending on your location, the partial eclipse can last between 70 to 80 minutes, according to NASA.

When the moon begins to cross in front of the sun, the star’s rays will shine around valleys on the moon’s horizon, creating glowing drops of light around the moon in a phenomenon called Baily’s beads.

As totality nears, Baily’s beads will quickly disappear until a single point of light remains, resembling a glistening

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