Looking for solar eclipse facts in preparation for the total solar eclipse crossing North America next year? In April 2024, a Total Solar Eclipse will captivate audiences as it journeys across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The path of this celestial spectacle will cross northern New Hampshire, and the Christmas Farm Inn is ideally located just a 30-minute drive from the path of totality!
As we prepare to witness the spectacle that is the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, let’s unravel the mystery of this cosmic display with some solar eclipse facts. We’ll define a total solar eclipse, explore the significance behind this rare occurrence, and delve into the captivating details that make this cosmic event so special.
2024 Total Solar Eclipse Facts
Let’s explore some solar eclipse facts about the 2024 Great American Solar Eclipse. On Monday, April 8, 2024, the northern third of New Hampshire will get to experience one of the most spectacular sights you can ever witness. The total solar eclipse will begin in New Hampshire at 3:28 pm CDT and will leave the state at 3:31 pm CDT to continue its path. For 3 minutes, the sky will suddenly darken as the moon eclipses the sun, with a small crown of light from the sun emitting behind the moon.
Some have said that a total solar eclipse is the most beautiful sight of nature you can ever behold. Pictures can never do a total solar eclipse justice; it truly is something you must see for yourself. The 2024 Great American Eclipse is especially significant because 31 million people live within the path of totality. It is extremely rare for an eclipse to be visible to this many people at once, especially across North America.
To add to the 2024 eclipse’s mystique, the next time a total solar eclipse will cross the United States from coast to coast will be 22 years from now, on August 12, 2045. This is why astronomers are calling this eclipse an extremely rare astronomical event. Being in the right place at the right time for a total solar eclipse is what makes them so rare, and in 2024, several million people will find themselves in the right place.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
The April 8, 2024, eclipse is an event you definitely don’t want to miss. But what exactly causes a solar eclipse? The simplest explanation is that a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves in front of the Sun, nearly completely blocking it from view. You might be curious about how the Moon can cover the Sun in this way. To grasp this, it’s important to consider the apparent sizes of the Sun and the Moon in our sky, as seen from our perspective here on Earth.
While the Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon, the Moon is 400 times closer to Earth than the Sun. This is why the Sun and Moon look to be roughly the same size from Earth. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon is able to appear as if it completely covers the Sun, outside of a small ring of light, known as the Sun’s corona, which is seen around the Moon’s circumference. We are in the perfect position on Earth to witness the effect of an eclipse, because of our distance from both the Sun and the Moon.
Our solar eclipse facts don’t end with total solar eclipses, though. There are other types of solar eclipses, such as annual or partial eclipses, that occur more frequently than total solar eclipses. In these, the Moon only partially covers the Sun. These types of eclipses, while still beautiful, do not have the same awe-inspiring impact as a total solar eclipse, and they are unsafe to view with the naked eye. Unless you are viewing a total solar eclipse at the time of totality, always use certified safe eclipse glasses.
Why Isn’t There a Total Solar Eclipse Each Month?
If you’re wondering why we don’t see total solar eclipses more often, the answer lies in the Moon’s plane of orbit. The Moon does not orbit around the Earth on the same plane that the Earth orbits around the Sun. The Moon has an approximate 5-degree tilt with respect to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This causes total solar eclipses to be much less frequent.
If the Sun and the Moon did orbit on the same plane, we would have a total solar and total lunar eclipse each month. Imagine how magnificent it would be to see this sight every month! However, we believe that the rarity of a total solar eclipse makes it all the more beautiful.
Plan Your Eclipse Experience at Christmas Farm Inn
We hope our solar eclipse facts have fueled your excitement for the 2024 total solar eclipse, and we hope you can join Christmas Farm Inn for the big event! In celebration of this extremely rare, out-of-this-world experience, Christmas Farm Inn is hosting a variety of events leading up to and on the day of the 2024 total solar eclipse. We will host eclipse-themed parties, equipped with themed menus and cocktails to keep everyone in the spirit.
We are excitedly preparing for this spectacular event and planning even more fun activities and parties for our guests to enjoy during the week of the eclipse. We hope you’ll join us for a day you will never forget as long as you live! We are encouraging guests to book their stays for the Eclipse weekend as soon as possible, as we expect this to be a highly anticipated and popular event.
To book, visit our website or call us at (603) 383-4313. We can’t wait to experience this magical event with you!