Why Should I Come?

The Moon covers only part of the Sun. Not noticable if you don't know to look (with eclipse glasses!)

This is the most common type of solar eclipse, happening somewhere on earth around two times per year. Most of the country will experience this on April 8th, as every Total Solar Eclipse is a Partial for those outside the path of totality. During a Partial you can't notice any change to the Sun if you were to glance quickly at it. And this is not advised, as the Sun's rays are too strong for your eyes to handle, even when the Sun is mostly covered by the Moon. In places near the path of totality, changes to the intensity and character of the daylight can happen, but they will be more pronounced in the path of totality during the lead up to totality.

The Moon covers the Sun's center. This makes for quite a sight - but only with eclipse glasses.

In this type, the Moon covers the Sun's center, leaving the Sun's outer edges to form a "ring of fire" around the Moon, called an annulus. There is only partial coverage because the Sun-Moon-Earth alignment is happening at a time when the Moon is a bit farther from the Earth than it is during a total solar eclipse. Like a partial solar eclipse, this type cannot be observed with the naked eye at any point. There was an annular solar eclipse this past October which was visible in parts of the southwest US. The spectacular imagery you can find online of a ring of fire hovering over the landscape can only be acheived with special camera equipment.

The Moon covers the Sun completely. For a few minutes you can take off your eclipse glasses and see the Sun's corona!

During a total solar eclipse there is all the fun of a partial solar eclipse, plus more. In the run up to the minutes of totality, the daylight changes in intensity and character, and the temperature drops. Animals sense that night is falling and either head home to roost or come out for action, in the case of animals that are active at twilight. At the preordained moment, the Moon moves into position to completely cover the face of the Sun, allowing you to remove your eclipse glasses and peer up at the Sun and Moon with the naked eye. You'll notice something peeking out from behind the Moon - the Sun's wispy outer atmosphere, called the corona. The sky is now very dark, as if it were early night, and you can see the brighter stars and planets. Enjoy this spectacular moment while it lasts, which this time around will be for 4 minutes or more!

The Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, turning it red. No glasses required here!

A lunar eclipse is caused by a different arrangment than solar eclipses. Here the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon and its shadow falls on the Moon. This can only happen during a full Moon, and it can happen more than once in a year. The Earth's shadow is much larger than the Moon, so a lunar eclipse can last for a few hours. The Moon can turn a deep red color during a total lunar eclipse, which is why it is sometimes called a "Blood Moon". This red light cast on the Moon can be thought of as the light of all the sunsets and sunrises happening around the Earth at that moment, cast upon the face of the Moon!