Two solar eclipses are coming to Austin and the Central Texas Hill Country and you can watch them both, annular and complete totality
An annular solar eclipse visits Texas, six months before the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, Parts of Central Texas are in the direct path of totality. If you are inside the path of annular solar eclipse, you will see the dramatic sight of the Sun as a thin ring, almost but not completely eclipsed by the Moon. Daylight will be dimmed considerably, but not dark like a total solar eclipse. This eerie sight can be enjoyed with eclipse glasses and other safe viewing methods.
The annular solar eclipse begins in Texas at 11:41 am CDT with the speed of the Moon’s shadow being 2313 mph. The annular solar eclipse leaves Texas at 12:00 pm CDT and the Moon’s shadow diminishes to 1736 mph. The maximum duration of annularity in Texas is 4 minutes and 52 seconds.
The largest city in the path of the annular solar eclipse in the United States is San Antonio with over 2.6 million people in the metropolitan area. Much of San Antonio is also inside the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Scenic locations to view the eclipse inside the path in Texas include the Enchanted Rock State National Area near Fredericksburg, Lost Maples State Natural Area, Caverns of Sonora, Rockport Beach near Corpus Christi, South Llano River State Park near Junction, the San Antonio River Walk, Medina River Natural Area near San Antonio, and the Alamo in San Antonio. The annular solar eclipse leaves the United States at Padre Island National Seashore, a beautiful series of barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico.
October 14, 2023 Texas Annular Solar Eclipse
| Begins: | Sat, Oct 14, 2023 at 10:24 am |
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| Maximum: | Sat, Oct 14, 2023 at 11:54 am |
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| Ends: | Sat, Oct 14, 2023 at 1:32 pm |
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April 8, 2024 Texas Total Solar Eclipse
| Begins: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 12:10 pm |
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| Maximum: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 1:27 pm |
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| Ends: | Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 3:06 pm |
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American Paper Optics is the biggest manufacturer of eclipse glasses, and our eclipse glasses are independently tested and CE certified. Many eclipse glasses appear on the market around the time of an eclipse event, but it’s important to know which ones you can trust. With our glasses, you can enjoy the eclipse experience safely and without damaging your eyesight. and be ready when you find yourself in the eclipse path! ORDER ECLIPSE GLASSES HERE!
Preparing for the 2024 Solar Eclipse in Texas
In 2024, some parts of Texas will be prime viewing spots for a total solar eclipse when the moon will entirely block the sun. This will take place on April 8, 2024, when the solar eclipse will be visible across parts of 13 states. Texas will experience the most prolonged duration, whereas Maine will have the shortest time.
People in Texas will be the first to view the total solar eclipse as the sky will become dark for several minutes. They will also have the added advantage of viewing the sun’s corona.
Texas did not experience the previous solar eclipse in 2017 but will have a front-row seat for the upcoming total solar eclipse in 2024. The path of totality covers a massive area, and the eclipse will cross through three of the largest cities in Texas: namely, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas.
Precise Time the Total Solar Eclipse Will Happen in Texas
At exactly 12:10 p.m., Texans will experience the eclipse. But the totality will begin at around 1:27 p.m. until 1:49 p.m. At 3:06 p.m., the solar eclipse will exit the state. In cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth, totality will last around two minutes but four minutes in Dallas.
However, Texas’s most extended duration of totality will be at Eagle Pass, around the U.S.-Mexico border, where totality will last about 4 minutes and 26 seconds. The moon’s shadow will travel approximately 478 miles in about 17 minutes, 30 seconds at an average speed of 1,641 miles per hour from the Mexico-Texas border to the Texas-Oklahoma border.
The Best Place to View the Solar Eclipse in Texas
Clear skies have been predicted, making Texas the best place for eclipse viewing in 2024. Since the north or west side of the path of totality generally has a sunnier climate than the south or east, the Texas cities of Junction and Brady may offer the best eclipse viewing.
What Can Be Seen During a Total Solar Eclipse?
At the beginning of the eclipse, you’ll see the full sun. The next stage is first contact, when the shadow of the moon begins to “touch” the edge of the solar disk. As the moon’s shadow covers more of the sun, it becomes a partial eclipse. Second contact happens when the moon almost completely blocks the sun, right before totality. Finally, totality is when the sun is completely blocked except for the shining corona at the edges.
Third contact is what happens when the moon’s shadow begins to uncover the sun, and you might see the “diamond ring” as the corona disappears and the sun reemerges. A few minutes after this, the eclipse ends and sunlight is fully restored.
Why American Paper Optics Is a Trusted Provider of High-Quality Eclipse Glasses
American Paper Optics is the biggest manufacturer of eclipse glasses, and our eclipse glasses are independently tested and CE certified. Many eclipse glasses appear on the market around the time of an eclipse event, but it’s important to know which ones you can trust. With our glasses, you can enjoy the eclipse experience safely and without damaging your eyesight. Order online today, and be ready when you find yourself in the eclipse path!
