Owen Marsten, Intern - thefranklinpressnews@gmail.com
Franklin will see a partial solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, making it appear as though the moon is covering the sun. Unlike the eclipse in August 2017, Macon County will not experience a total eclipse this year; a portion of the sun will still be visible. Parts of Mexico, Canada, and the United States will see the total eclipse.
“The maximum that the eclipse will be for Franklin would be around 84.8% which means that we’re going to get about 15% of the amount of light we normally get from the sun at the exact same position,” said Dr. Enrique Gomez, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Western Carolina University. “It’s not going to be the same dramatic darkening that you’re going to get during the total eclipse, but you will definitely feel the temperature drop and there’s going to be less light.”
Franklin will see maximum coverage of the sun at 3:07 p.m. The eclipse will occur slowly, lasting around two and half hours, starting at 1:49 p.m. During this time the moon will begin to cover the sun, giving it a crescent shape.
Gomez explained that light levels during the eclipse’s maximum coverage will be similar to a sunny day on the dwarf planet Ceres, which is between Mars and Jupiter. The sun may also shine through the leaves of trees, projecting small crescents onto the ground.
In order to view the sun, special eclipse glasses are recommended. These glasses protect human eyes from direct contact with the sun. They are not the same as sunglasses. Ensure that any eclipse glasses used are marked as ISO certified. Only ISO certified glasses are proven to be safe.
Gomez warned that older glasses may be damaged and no longer usable. At no point is it safe to look directly at the sun during a partial eclipse.
“If you put on glasses and you can see anything in the landscape other than the sun, it’s letting too much light in,” said Gomez.
“It’s going to be very enjoyable, and it will definitely feel different. Just remember not to look at the sun directly and make sure you have ISO certified eclipse glasses if you want to look at it,” said Gomez.
The next total solar eclipse in the United States will be Aug. 24, 2044.
For more information on eclipses and viewing safety visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses.
Eclipse Events
• The Macon County Public Library will host a Solar Eclipse Family Night from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 4. This pre-eclipse celebration will include a portable planetarium, a solar telescope, free eclipse glasses, space themed snacks and activities for all ages. The library is located at 149 Siler Farm Rd.
• The Franklin Chamber of Commerce is selling eclipse glasses for $2 each. They can be purchased Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Chamber’s Welcome Center at 98 Hyatt Road.
• The chamber will host an eclipse watch party with a DJ playing “Sun and Moon” music around 2 p.m. on April 8. Bring a chair.
• Southwestern Community College will host a viewing party for the solar eclipse in the Balsam parking lot on the Jackson Campus. The event will include a livestream, activities, and food available for purchase from the Iron Wok food truck and Kona Ice. Certified eclipse glasses will be provided to guests. The viewing party will be held on April 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.