TEXAS, USA — The 2024 total solar eclipse is inching closer and closer! As April 8 approaches, many are looking for ways to get the most out of their experience.
Dr. Mario Motta, a medical doctor and member of the American Astronomical Society's Solar Eclipse Task Force, spoke with 6 News about ways to enhance viewing the rare phenomenon.
One popular talker is wearing reds or greens, depending on how much water vapor is in the air.
Dr. Motta says this has been known for decades and you don't need an eclipse to see that effect. It happens every night at dusk.
"As it gets dark enough, you switch from cones, which is your color vision, to rods, which is your night vision," Dr. Motta said. "In that transition, reds are not seen as well. Greens and blues, especially blue is seen a little bit better, but it's a very minimal effect."
What Dr. Motta recommends is putting a white sheet on the ground.
"You'll see what's called shadow bands," Dr. Motta said. " That's where it looks like the bottom of a pool during sunlight, where ripples go across quite quickly. It's phenomenal to see that. It's only in the last five minutes before totality."
You can also hold up a kitchen colander.
"You'll see a whole bunch of crescents getting tighter and tighter as you get close to totality," Dr. Motta said.
Then during the very beginning of totality, Dr. Motta says you will see a diamond ring effect.
"That'll get dimmer and dimmer and over a couple of seconds and then switch to Bailey's Beads which has the last little bit of rays on the edge of moon and that's worth looking for," Dr. Motta said.
It's something you won't want to miss out on, especially if you are in Central Texas, which is right in the path of totality.
"The next one across the US won't be till 2045," Dr. Motta said. "I'll be in a nursing home by then and hopefully someone can wheel me out. It's just so much more important to concentrate on the eclipse and have that as a lasting memory, you won't forget it."
More on the total solar eclipse from 6 News: