Interesting facts about the solar eclipse

  • This will be the most viewed eclipse ever! Why? The media will be all over it allowing access to this major event to all platforms. If you want to see it in person, roads and highways will allow it. Lastly, the fact that this eclipse is covering coast-to-coast, it’s allowing more people than usual to follow.
  • If you get to experience the path of totality, what will it be like? It will not be completely dark. Imagine 30-40 minutes after dusk. Plants, animals, and insects all act as if night is falling. Cows will want to head inside. Nocturnal animals will try to come out. It’s eerie!
  • How many times will the International Space Station see the eclipse? Three times. The ISS travels at almost 5 miles/second. This will allow them to view the eclipse three separate times as it rounds the earth.
  • Will the temperature drop during totality? Yes.  Some spots under the path of totality have dropped as much as 20 degrees.  This is all based on moisture content in the atmosphere and obscurity from the eclipse.
  • When was the last solar eclipse? When is the next one? February 26th, 1979 was the last time the continental U.S. saw a full eclipse. The next one is not far away set for April 8th, 2024.
  • How rare is a total solar eclipse? There is one somewhere on earth every 18 months or so.
  • What are the chances a particular city will see solar eclipse? On average, a total eclipse is visible at any given spot on earth once every 375 years.
  • When was the last solar eclipse to hit southeastern Wisconsin? 1379!
  • When will the next solar eclipse fall in line with Wisconsin? 2099. Milwaukee will be in the path of totality.
  • When was the last time the path of totality ran through Wisconsin? 1954. Parts of NW Wisconsin were in the path with cities like Hayward, Rice Lake, and even Minneapolis/St Paul
  • Make sure to wear protective eye wear at all times!
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