Cleveland’s total eclipse: an event of a lifetime – The Cauldron
Cleveland will experience a once-in-a-lifetime event on Monday, April 8: a total solar eclipse.
Photo Credit: NASA
While the eclipse will only last about two hours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., celebrations and learning exhibitions are set to be held all day long across the metro area.
From road closures to a day off of class at Cleveland State University, many people may be left wondering: what makes the celestial event such a big deal?
Background
On average, a solar eclipse happens around every 18 months, according to NASA.
However, they may not always be visible and may vary in scale. The 2024 eclipse will result in totality, full darkness due to the new moon blocking the sun. NASA also reports that, in comparison to the 2017 eclipse, the moon will appear significantly larger this year, blocking all of the sun, whereas eight years ago, the eclipse still left a halo around the edges.
In addition to completely blocking the sun, the 2024 eclipse will also have a longer totality. Projected to last four minutes, the eclipse will not only cause a more dramatic blackout in the middle of the day but will provide an extended opportunity for scientists to take measurements that will help to further understand the impact of the event.
Eclipses have always been important, with records dating back to 3340 B.C.E. highlighting the significance of the few minutes of darkness to the people witnessing it.
With a totality of this length and extremity, this may be the only opportunity for people living in the United States, Mexico and Canada to experience an eclipse like this once in their lifetime.
Cleveland: the dream destination
The path of totality during an eclipse often experiences a rise in tourism, with this year being no exception. The weekend prior to the eclipse is projected to cause a significant increase in tourism in all cities on the path, including Dallas, Little Rock, Buffalo and, of course, Cleveland.
Whether it be scientists, enthusiasts or tourists, Cleveland is expected to host more than 200,000 visitors over the weekend of April 5-8, according to Destination Cleveland. Part of those numbers can also be attributed to the 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four basketball game being hosted at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Sunday, April 7, the day before to the eclipse.
City of Cleveland has announced a series of road closures that will be in place on Monday, most likely due to a combination of this sudden influx of people attempting to navigate the Cleveland area and the potential dangers of the sudden darkness caused by the eclipse. In addition to the roads, schools in the area, including CSU, will be closed for the day.
Happenings
While it might seem like an inconvenience to some, the crowds of people arriving in the city and the enormity of the event itself has led to many different events and celebrations of the eclipse across the metro area.
Some of the large public events include the Total Eclipse Festival at the Great Lakes Science Center, Total on the Oval at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, as well as gatherings at many surrounding parks. There are also many ticketed events, including SolarFest at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Guardians opening day at Progressive Field.
CSU’s campus has also planned viewing party inside and outside the Science Research building, and the ticketed Eclipse Rooftop viewing party that will be hosted by Viking Public House.
However you choose to view the eclipse, be sure to wear ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!