The annual eclipse in the southwest takes place this Saturday (October 14). We’ll see a partial eclipse with about 55 percent of the Sun’s diameter by the Moon when it peaks at 1 p.m. The partial eclipse begins at 11:38 a.m. and it ends at 2:26 p.m.
This is a prelude to the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024. The last Total Solar Eclipse was June 16, 1806. If you miss the one next year, you will have to wait until February 25, 2343, for the next one.
Several towns and three schools in Clinton County will experience totality on April 8, 2024. “First Contact” will be in Kirklin when the moon starts to eclipse the sun around 1:50 p.m. with totality in Kirkin beginning in at about 3:06:55 p.m. Maximum darkness in Kirklin will be at 3:08 p.m. with totality ending at 3:09.06. The Kirklin area will be one of the best places in Clinton County for the Total Solar Eclipse as it will have two minutes and 11 seconds of totality.
Clinton Central and (barely) Frankfort High School and Frankfort Middle School will be in totality. Clinton Prairie and Rossville schools will not enjoy totality on that Monday afternoon.
According to Solar Eclipse expert Dan McGlaun, solar-approved eyewear is already on backorder and will get more and more difficult to buy. Everybody must remember looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection is very dangerous and may cause permanent damage to your eyes.
For more information about the Total Solar Eclipse, go to the Solar Eclipse 2024 button near the top of Clinton County Daily News or Boone County Daily News.