Syzygy: the technical term for when three objects in space (like the sun, Earth, and moon) line up. Pronunciation: “si-zuh-jee.”
As you may have heard, over the next six months we will experience not one, but two solar eclipses. This is very exciting news, but they are both very different for us here in Canton. Here are some things you should know.
Most importantly, never look directly at an eclipse (or at the sun, in general) at any point in during its progress. The sun's rays can damage or destroy cells in your eyes. Please use solar eclipse glasses, an eclipse viewer or other approved devices.
The first solar eclipse is an annular eclipse. This means that the moon is in its farthest position from the Earth (its apogee) as it passes between the sun and the Earth. As a result, the moon will never completely cover the sun, displaying a "ring of fire" around the moon at the peak of the eclipse. This event will take place in Canton on Saturday, October 14, 2023 beginning at 11:45 AM. However, a very important fact for Canton is that we will only experience 35.67% coverage of the sun, as we are not directly in the moon's path. This means that those of us in Canton will experience a partial eclipse, and the moon will only cover 35-36% of the sun at the height of the transition.
The next event is a total solar eclipse. The moon is closer to the Earth and travels in a narrow path of totality between the sun and the Earth. As a result, if in the path, the moon covers the sun completely. This astronomical event will take place in Canton on Monday, April 8, 2024 with coverage beginning at 1:58 PM and maximum coverage of the sun taking place at 3:14 PM. The great news for Canton is that we are set to experience 99.46% of coverage for this event, putting us almost completely in the path of totality. That's pretty awesome!
Check out additional eclipse information on the following websites:
Stay tuned to our website and monthly e-newsletter for upcoming total solar eclipse activities, giveaways and programming in the spring.
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