TEMPLE, Texas — On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Central Texas, darkening the skies for four minutes and 16 seconds in a spectacle that will undoubtedly bring onlookers from near and far for what many consider a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The City of Killeen has begun to make preparations for the event and has even estimated the city's normal population of 160,000 will swell to double its size with tourists and travelers.
However, a major part of the event itself is location--where is an ideal spot to watch the eclipse from?
According to Jamie Carter of Space.com, you don't need to be directly in the center of the path of totality--or where the moon will most cover the sun during the eclipse--to catch a great view.
The roughly 115-mile-wide path of totality is a narrow one when you consider the total path the eclipse will take over the U.S. and parts of northern Mexico, but it leaves plenty of opportunities for many to get a good glimpse (with proper eyewear) of the eclipse.
One thing that's not recommended is to station yourself at the edge of the path of totality, as the moon will only appear to cover a small portion of the sun for a few brief moments, and if there is something like a valley or crater on the uneven surface of the moon, you may miss seeing the eclipse entirely.
"The edge is a weird place," said Dr. Tyler Nordgren in an interview with Space.com. "If there happens to be a crater or a valley on the edge of the moon, then you will not experience totality at all."
Conversely, being at the center of the eclipse may end up giving you diminishing returns on your efforts to get an A+ spot, as the center line is likely where crowds will be the largest, meaning you may have to contend with many others to find a good viewing location.
The positive news is that experts say the closer you are to the center line, the less difference it makes in the duration that the eclipse will be visible.
Instead of stressing about being right on the center line, Carter with Space.com recommends going somewhere just shy of it. While you may lose a few seconds of totality, Carter says it likely will not make a major difference in the overall viewing experience.
"We have a saying around the planetarium," Olivier Hernandez, Director of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planétarium in Montreal, told Space.com. "Totality always feels like it lasts eight seconds, no matter how long it lasts."
"I am not one of these people that has to get to the centerline of the path of totality," agreed Nordgren. "Number one, just be in the path of totality, and number two, be where it's clear."
For more on the eclipse, visit kcentv.com/eclipse.
For tips on how to safely view the eclipse, visit this link.
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