Preparing for the 2024 Solar Eclipse in San Antonio Texas

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will take a path through North America. During this type of eclipse, the moon will pass between the sun and the Earth, blocking sunlight from the planet’s surface and creating a shadow. Since this is a total eclipse, the moon will fully cover the sun during this event. While this creates a significant shadow, there will still be a corona of light around the moon. 

The full effect of the total eclipse occurs along a narrow path that travels from the Pacific Coast of Mexico to the eastern island of Canada. A partial eclipse, where the moon only covers a certain portion of sunlight, will occur along a much broader area during the same day. For example, Denver will get about 60% coverage; Los Angeles will get about 50% coverage; Atlanta will get about 75% coverage; and Chicago will get about 95% coverage. Every part of the continental United States will experience at least some portion of the eclipse on April 8, 2024. 

Will the Eclipse Be Visible From San Antonio?

San Antonio residents will experience the full effect of the 2024 total solar eclipse. This makes the Alamo City a prime location for those who want to see the full corona. Even though the moon will cover the sun during the peak of this event, looking directly at the eclipse at any time outside of totality without protection is dangerous. Even at a fraction of their normal intensity, powerful photons from the star can cause serious damage to your retina and other parts of the eye. 

Families traveling to San Antonio to view the total eclipse should plan to bring or purchase protective eyewear before the event begins. Protection allows you to view the corona effect without damaging your eyes. While there are crude homemade solutions, specially made glasses offer superior protection and visibility. 

What Time Will the Eclipse Happen?

The total eclipse in San Antonio begins at 1:34 p.m., Central Daylight Time. Not every part of the city is within the maximum coverage zone. Downtown attractions, for example, are slightly outside the path and will get about 99% of the total eclipse coverage. The maximum eclipse, or when the moon covers the most amount of the sun, will occur in the northwestern part of the city. It will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes for the moon to reach its apex position once it first starts coverage, and then it will take another hour and 20 minutes for it to no longer produce any shadow. The only time it’s safe to look at the eclipse is during total coverage.

How Long Will the 2024 Eclipse Last?

The San Antonio, Texas, Eclipse 2024 will last for about 2 hours and 40 minutes from the beginning of partial coverage to the end. The total obscuration period, however, will only last about 4 minutes at the most optimal locations. Some locations will experience it for 2 minutes or less. During this period, the moon will block most sunlight and create a corona of light around the lunar surface. This will also produce a significant shadow, darkening the sky. The maximum totality will be the most popular time for locals and tourists to want to look at the event directly. 

Even though the sun will appear to be less bright than normal, harmful rays can still seriously damage the retina. It only takes a fraction of full sunlight to cause harm to the naked eye. This is especially true when the sun is highest in the sky, which it will be during most of the solar eclipse event in San Antonio. Protective eyewear is crucial at any time outside the short period of time when there is totality.

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