Why the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is a Big Deal in Vermont

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In the upcoming spring, northern Vermont is set to experience a remarkable celestial event as a total solar eclipse unfolds. Scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2024, at precisely 3:26 p.m., this event will witness the moon passing directly between the Earth and the sun, casting portions of Vermont into complete shadow. The eclipse's "path of totality," where the moon fully obscures the sun, will traverse Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Northern Vermont, positioned directly in this path, will have a unique opportunity to witness this extraordinary occurrence.

Anticipated to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the Green Mountain State, this eclipse holds significance due to the rarity of such events. While solar eclipses occur approximately twice a year, only a small percentage of people worldwide ever have the chance to witness them.

University of Vermont astrophysicist John Perry emphasized the rarity, stating, “You have to be in the right place… in the shadow cast by the moon onto the Earth.” Waiting for a total solar eclipse to come to a specific location could take an average of 360 years, and some parts of the world haven't experienced a solar eclipse in 2,000 years. The last one in Vermont occurred in 1936, visible to only a small portion of the state.

For those eager to witness the eclipse, the totality will be visible within a 70- to 80-mile swath across the region, stretching from Montréal in the north to Middlebury in the south, with Burlington and St. Albans situated in the middle. Perry suggests finding a location away from artificial lights to fully experience the darkness during the eclipse.

As the eclipse unfolds, those near Lake Champlain are encouraged to seek higher ground to witness the moon's shadow sweeping across the lake at a rapid pace. The eclipse will commence at 2:14 p.m., gradually darkening the sky as the moon progresses in front of the sun. Totality in Burlington is expected to last approximately three and a half minutes, varying slightly depending on the observer's location, before the sky starts to lighten again. The eclipse will be visible until 4:37 p.m.

Describing the experience, Perry mentioned, "It's very dramatic. It'll get very dark, and the sunlight will look creepy."

This event holds the potential to be a significant occurrence for Vermont, akin to the 2017 total solar eclipse in Idaho Falls, where 300,000 people gathered. Early reports from hotels and short-term rentals indicate a substantial crowd is expected in Vermont for this celestial spectacle.

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