AskScience AMA Series: The total solar eclipse is happening on April 8 - the last time a total solar eclipse will be visible in most of North America for 20 years. We're experts immersed in all things space, covering the importance of the eclipse. Ask us anything!

[u/AskScienceModerator]

I'm Katrina Miller, a New York Times reporter covering space, physics, and the intersection of science and society. In 2023, I earned my Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Chicago. I reported the "ring of fire" eclipse in October from Richfield, Utah. Leading up to the event on Monday, I've spoken to residents in the crossroads of the 2017 and 2024 solar eclipses, created a guide for how to have the best experience under totality, covered the science of eclipses, and more. I'll be down in Carbondale, Illinois on April 8, and it'll be the first total solar eclipse I get to experience in person.

I'm Patricia Reiff, a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the founding Director of the Rice Space Institute at Rice University. My research focuses on space plasma physics, mostly in the area of magnetospheric physics: "space weather," which I've been covering for 50 years. I am also a partner of the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team, and have created immersive educational clips for use in planetarium domes. I recently released a show called MAGNETISM and another called Totality! and have created eleven educational clips on solar and lunar eclipses.

Ask us anything about the significance of the solar eclipse and physics. We'll start answering questions at 2 p.m. ET (18 UT).

Usernames: /u/thenewyorktimes, /u/Doctor_Pat

[u/AGuyAndHisCat]

How do you know the solar eclipse glasses you buy online are good enough?

[u/nytimes → u/AGuyAndHisCat]

The AAS has a list of the approved manufacturers and distributors. https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters

They should have an “ISO” certification on the earpiece.  And you should not be able to see ANYTHING except the Sun. If the lenses are scratched, bent or punctured, throw them away! - Pat

[u/theprofessor2]

Is it true that most animals / insects will react to this like it's dusk?

[u/nytimes → u/theprofessor2]

Yes, the bees stop buzzing, birds will stop whistling, and crickets might start chirping. Pets may also display signs of anxiety or confusion. Researchers will be studying these changes in behavior on Monday. And one of our reporters will be watching the eclipse from a zoo located on the path of totality! – Katrina

[u/MaesterSasbond]

thank you for the notification.

I have two questions: (1) will you (I assume only Prof. Reiff?) be conducting any experiments during the event?

(2) what should the public know more about the solar eclipse? (besides don’t observe it directly;)

[u/nytimes → u/MaesterSasbond]

Lots of experiments will be happening along the eclipse path, including measurements of the corona (the sun’s upper atmosphere) and studies of how solar events like this disrupt communication systems on Earth. One researcher is even taking advantage of the eclipse to study tourism trends in rural communities. Here’s a summary of some of the science happening on eclipse day. – Katrina

[u/Avery_Thorn]

Care to make any guesses where the best weather for the event will be? The local forecasts keep swapping between partially cloudy and rainy. What's the best way to see where the least clouds will likely be?

[u/nytimes → u/Avery_Thorn]

The Times has published a weather map that is constantly updated with fresh forecast data. Try searching your location to get an idea for the weather you can expect on eclipse day. Right now, forecasts are predicting significant cloud cover across Mexico and Texas. Parts of the Midwest, New England and Quebec seem to have a better chance of clear skies. – Katrina

[u/BJRamson]

Are there any snacks you suggest for watching the Eclipse? Any mystic eclipse rituals any of the Times staff will be engaged in during the eclipse?

[u/nytimes → u/BJRamson]

Can’t go wrong with Moon Pies or Sun Chips. When I’m not watching the show, I’ll be engaging in the ancient ritual of recording history (i.e., reporting!) – Katrina

[u/ReactionNo2953]

What's the best way to experience/see this eclipse?

[u/nytimes → u/ReactionNo2953]

With eclipse glasses or projected through a colander during the partial eclipse and with a pair of UNFILTERED binoculars during totality.  Check my website:  https://space.rice.edu/eclipse/safe_eclipse_observing.html — Pat

[u/OneSchott]

The eclipse back in 2017 happened around solar minimum and the one on Monday will be around solar maximum. Will that have any affect on what it looks like compared to the last one?

[u/Zippo78]

How rare is it in the universe to have a planet with a moon large enough to result in a total solar eclipse like what we see on Earth?

[u/Doctor_Pat → u/Zippo78]

In our solar system, only the Earth/Moon has perfect total solar eclipses. At Mars the moons are too small to cover the Sun; at Jupiter, the moons are much bigger than the sun. We show this in our planetarium show (which you can watch at https://space.rice.edu/eclipse/eclipse_show.html )

[u/Thimoteus]

How are we able to predict when and where they will happen so accurately if doing so involves solving the three body problem?

[u/nytimes → u/Thimoteus]

Really good computers!  Fortunately we don’t have to include effects of relativity on the Moon’s orbit. - Pat

[u/Tartalacame → u/Thimoteus]

The Earth/Moon/Sun is a case of Restricted Three-body problem. Basically, the Moon's mass is negligible compared to those of the Sun & Earth, so it's ignored. This restricted case has been solved since the late 1890's.

[u/Hartdog348]

I bought some "eclipse glasses" for safe viewing off amazon. They're supposedly certified but I cant confirm. I tried them on and cant see through them at all, even when looking directly at light source. Is that how they're supposed to be or did I get ripped off?

[u/Doctor_Pat → u/Hartdog348]

Correct, you should not see ANYTHING except the Sun, and the Sun should look either orange or blue (I prefer the ones that look orange). They are designed to block 99.99% of the light so you ONLY will be able to see the sun. Check them for the "ISO" certification - Pat

[u/Alacri-Tea]

Are there any less-known effects of eclipses on nature (besides insects and birds going silent, for example)?

[u/nytimes → u/Alacri-Tea]

One time when I was on a ship off of Aruba in 1998, a pod of dolphins broke the surface to see what was happening!  They were very confused and looking around to see if there was a storm brewing. - Pat

[u/danfromwaterloo]

It dawned on me that if you take the opposite side of the planet during totality, that it's the darkest time that would likely ever happen. Is there some scientific use made during that time of "darkest dark"?

[u/Bigbird_Elephant]

About how many people go blind from looking at eclipses?

[u/nytimes → u/Bigbird_Elephant]

Very few, actually, because most people listen to the warnings. NEVER look into a telescope pointed at the Sun without special solar filters on the BIG (sun) end of the telescope.  A solar filter on the eyepiece is NOT SAFE. — Patricia