Preparing for the 2024 Solar Eclipse in Little Rock AR
The 2024 solar eclipse, also referred to as the Great American Eclipse, will occur on April 8, 2024. The eclipse will begin in Mexico and then pass across the United States and Canada. The eclipse will follow a path where the sun will be blocked from full or partial viewing as it moves across the continent. The blockage will last from three minutes to over four minutes, depending on your viewing location. For instance, the event will last a little over three minutes in Little Rock. Still, in Sevier County, where the cities of Gillham, De Queen, Horatio, and Lockesburg are located, the eclipse will last for over four minutes.
What Is an Eclipse?
An eclipse occurs when a stellar body (such as a planet or moon) blocks the view of another stellar body. In this case, the solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, blocking our view of the star. This will occur on April 8, 2024. The eclipse will cover a 140-mile-wide swath as the Earth continues to rotate around the sun. Those inside the 140-mile-wide swath will be cast in complete or partial darkness as the eclipse passes over them, while those outside the swath will continue to see the sunshine (depending on weather conditions).
How Often Does a Total solar Eclipse Happen in Arkansas?
The 2024 solar eclipse is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. The first recorded eclipse took place in 1834, two years before Arkansas became a state. The second total solar eclipse occurred in 1918. The last total eclipse affecting the United States happened in 2017, but the path of that eclipse didn’t pass directly over Arkansas. There weren’t any locations in the state that were completely bathed in darkness during the 2017 eclipse.
How Do You View the Eclipse?
Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse will damage your eyes. For safe viewing, you should wear protective glasses that block damaging rays.
Can You See the Solar Eclipse in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The solar eclipse of 2024 will pass over Little Rock in the early afternoon of April 8, 2024. The event will happen at approximately 1:51 p.m. and last a little over three minutes. The eclipse over Little Rock is expected to pass over by 1:54 p.m. You should be able to see the eclipse from many places in Little Rock. Still, the Museum of Discovery, CALS Main Library, CALS Roosevelt Thompson Branch, and Hillary Rodham Children’s Library are considered among the prime locations for viewing. You should check the weather conditions for clouds. Past solar eclipses have been blocked from viewing by heavy clouds.
What Time Will the 2024 Eclipse Happen?
The solar eclipse will begin in the United States in Texas at approximately 1:27 p.m. CDT and travel diagonally across the country and over Arkansas until it goes across Maine and into Canada. It is expected to pass over Maine at approximately 3:35 p.m. EDT (Eastern Standard Time).
How Long Will the 2024 Solar Eclipse Last?
The eclipse will begin in Mazatlán, Mexico, at about 10:51 a.m. local time. From there, it will travel a northeast path across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The solar eclipse is expected to end at approximately 4:11 p.m. NST (Newfoundland Standard Time) once it passes over Labrador, Canada. Some locations viewing times can reach as high as four minutes and twenty-six seconds. Little Rock’s viewing time will be shorter, but you can still experience the event for several minutes on April 8.
Safely view the 2024 Solar Eclipse, and buy Eclipse Glasses online today!
