Visit NH: 2024 Solar Eclipse - Start Planning Now!

Focus on All Things New England! [New England Focus Logo]( New Hampshire Total Solar Eclipse: Astronomy 101 What goes into making the light show of a lifetime. [Logo]( Sponsored by: [Visit New Hampshire]( [Photo of a solar eclipse by Oren Ravid] Oren Ravid/iStock New Hampshire is one of just 13 states in the path of totality for the Great North American Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024. While most of the rest of the U.S. will experience a partial solar eclipse, this 100-mile-wide band — which will cross much of New Hampshire’s Great North Woods — is the only place to experience the unforgettable phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. It offers amazing sights you will see nowhere else and at no other time, from the moon as the blackest of black spheres, to the gorgeous gauzy light streaming out from the corona of the sun itself. And while the experience of witnessing a total solar eclipse may be hard to put into words, summing up its basic science is, fortunately, a bit easier. Types of Solar Eclipses A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely or partially blocking the sun and casting a shadow on Earth. In a partial eclipse, the moon covers just a portion of the sun, and only its outer shadow (the penumbra) reaches Earth. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon doesn’t quite cover the sun, instead creating a beautiful “ring of fire” effect around the moon’s edge. Finally, the total eclipse: The sun is fully covered, and the moon casts its deepest shadow (the umbra) on Earth. The sky goes dark, solar flares and the sun’s fiery atmosphere (the corona) come into view, and other stars and planets brighten in the daytime sky. The moment of totality is also the only time that the sun can be safely viewed with the naked eye [Great North American Solar Eclipse]( NH is one of only 13 states in the path of totality. Plan now with our visitors’ guide, filled with viewing tips and travel ideas to inspire you to “come early and stay late”! [Digital NH Solar Eclipse Guide]( SPONSORED [Solar eclipse diagram - Alhovik] Alhovik/Shutterstock Stages of a Total Solar Eclipse A total solar eclipse begins with first contact, when the moon takes its initial “bite” out of the sun. Second contact occurs as the moon actually covers the sun; a chain of pearly lights called Baily’s Beads and the flaring jewel of the diamond-ring effect can be seen along the moon’s edge. In totality, the sun is completely hidden except for its outer atmosphere, the corona. Third contact sees the moon moving away from the sun; the corona fades, and Baily’s Beads and the diamond-ring effect can be seen again here. Lastly, fourth contact is the point when the moon’s edge last touches the sun, marking the end of the eclipse—roughly two and a half hours after it began. Frequency of Total Solar Eclipses In one sense, total solar eclipses aren’t rare, coming around every 18 months or so. But given that they often occur over remote locations — like the poles, or the middle of the ocean — the chances to see one are slim indeed. In contrast to a total lunar eclipse — which may be seen at any given point on Earth every 2½ years, on average — a total solar eclipse may appear at any given location just once every 300 to 400 years. The experience of a lifetime, indeed! [Ad-300x250]( SPONSORED [New England]( [TRAVEL]( [FOOD]( [LIVING]( [WEEKENDS WITH YANKEE TV]( [YANKEE MAGAZINE]( [SHOP]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( You received this email because you signed for updates from [NewEngland.com](. If you do not wish to receive our regular e-mail newsletters in the future, please [click here to manage your preferences or unsubscribe](. *Please do not reply to this e-mail* © 2024 Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444 [Contact Us]( [View web version](