Image: Onlookers watch from TAMUCC campus as the solar eclipse nears totality on April 8. Although the overcast weather obscured viewers’ vision, the eclipse was still visible through the clouds. Corpus Christi’s next solar eclipse will take place on August 23, 2044
according to NASA.
Story, Photo, and Translation by Victoria Escobedo
On April 8, 2024, the North American continent experienced a total solar eclipse, the first since 2017. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun align in a position where the moon blocks out the sun. As such a spectacular phenomenon that won’t occur again until 2044, according to NASA, the public took advantage of the opportunity: NASA conducted experiments, some people booked weddings or planned photo opportunities, and other people traveled to areas of totality, like Dallas.
Corpus Christi wasn’t on the path of totality, but it did experience a partial eclipse, starting at 12:13 p.m. and ending at 2:55 p.m. with maximum visibility at 1:33 p.m. and a 93.5% obscuration. However, due to the cloud coverage that day, visibility was limited.
“I was really excited about the eclipse because I had heard that it was going to get dark at one point as if it were nighttime,” said Katrina Garza, a first year English major. “But it was cloudy, so I didn’t get to see it like I wanted to.”
In areas of totality, like Dallas, the sky was so dark that other planets such as Jupiter and Venus were visible as well as the sun’s outer atmosphere, its corona. In order to safely view the eclipse, special eclipse glasses are required, such as the glasses that were offered by TAMUCC’s Mary and Jeff Bell Library.
Scientists study solar eclipses to study the sun’s corona as well as the effects of eclipses on the earth, such as temperature changes and the changes in animal behavior.
This eclipse in particular was unique in comparison to other eclipses because it had a wider and more populated path, experienced a longer time in totality, showed heightened solar
activity, and featured expanded scientific research.
Seeing as the next total solar eclipse isn’t until August 23, 2044, according to NASA, this was an unbelievable opportunity to witness such a rare event.
“Even though we weren’t in the path of totality and it was cloudy, it was still cool to see everyone on campus outside to look at the eclipse,” said Garza. “That’s not really something you see every day.”