Lake Champlain Committee (LCC)
Dear Lake Friend,
Monday April 8, 2024 the skies above Lake Champlain will go dark in the middle of the afternoon. Almost all of the lake is in the path of totality for the solar eclipse of 2024 passing through Mexico, the US, and Canada. It’s a historic occurrence—on average, any given location sees a total solar eclipse every 355 years. The LCC team is excited to experience this rare celestial event and will be heading out on foot to various viewing locations in the Lake Champlain watershed. Below we share information and resources about what a solar eclipse is, where to go, where not to go, Leave No Trace principles, a solar eclipse sundial, safety, community science opportunities, regional guides, and more to help you experience this once-in-a-lifetime phenomena.
HOW ECLIPSES WORK
Eclipses happen when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up. Total solar eclipses happen when the Moon is perfectly between the Sun and the Earth and casts a shadow onto Earth. While the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun it can block it out because it’s about 400 times closer to the Earth.
According to NASA, solar eclipses happen only during the new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are aligned on the same side of the Earth. New moons happen every month, yet there are on average only two full solar eclipses on Earth every year—why?
The Moon does not orbit in the same plane that the Sun and Earth are in (known as the ecliptic plane). Instead, the Moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted by about five degrees. During the new moon, the Moon usually passes below or above the Sun, and its shadow misses Earth. During eclipses, the paths sync up. Totality lasts anywhere from one to four minutes, depending on how close to the center of the path of totality you are. The moon’s shadow moves at different speeds depending on the distance from the equator—it accelerates as it moves closer to the poles. In the Lake Champlain region, the shadow will accelerate from 2,550 miles per hour (MPH) to 2,800 MPH! This will cause a dusk or dawn-like period during the day for a few hours. It will start gradually and then the light will fade to darkness for a few minutes in the middle.
The image above of eleven pictures shows the progression of the August 2017 total solar eclipse over Madras Oregon. Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
PRINT OUT A SOLAR ECLIPSE SUNDIAL
Bill Gottesman, retired Burlington physician and member of the North American Sundial Society, designed a sundial that only works during solar eclipses. You can read up on how it works, plug in your location, and print out a sundial that’s geared to your latitude and longitude and test it out on Monday.
This map from NASA shows the path the solar eclipse will travel on April 8—with Lake Champlain right in the center!
WHERE TO GO
If you live in the 110-mile wide path of totality, you don’t need to leave your backyard to view the full solar eclipse. (Check out this cool NASA map plotting viewing times through 15 states to the Canadian Maritimes from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic.) If you want to experience the eclipse communally there are organizations, businesses, and towns in the Lake Champlain watershed hosting viewing parties. Here’s a sampling:
New York
- Viewing party at the Plattsburgh City Beach
- Total Solar Eclipse at Ausable Brewing Co.
- Essex Eclipse 2024 – Main Street block party
- Total Solar Eclipse weekend events in Westport
- Crown Point State Historic Site viewing area
- Ticonderoga solar eclipse viewing locations and events
Vermont
- Alburgh Totality Festival
- Solar Eclipse Gathering in South Hero
- In the Dark at St. Albans Bay Park
- Obscura Burlington – information on eclipse viewing sites and events
- ECHO Center – Eclipse programming with the Vermont Astronomical Society
- Total Eclipse of the Park – VT State Parks
For those outside the path of totality
If you’ll be outside the path of totality on April 8 and are experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out) you can watch or listen to Vermont Public’s live broadcast from the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, VT starting at 3:00 PM EST on eclipse day or check out the eclipse from atop Whiteface Mountain courtesy of the University at Albany Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) field station webcam on YouTube. The eclipse will be viewable from the Adirondack peak’s 4,867-foot summit from between 2:13 and 4:36 PM with the total eclipse occurring between 3:25 and 3:28 PM EST.
WHERE NOT TO GO
While mountain summits and lakes and ponds might seem like ideal locations to view the total eclipse there are significant hazards this time of year. Trails and summits are likely to be covered in some combination of ice, snow, and mud. The Adirondack Mountain Club advises great caution for anyone considering entering the back country and the Green Mountain Club urges visitors and locals to choose eclipse viewing events and locations in cities and towns and avoid the backcountry altogether during this transitional time.
Similarly, boating and paddling are more dangerous in April due to cold water which significantly increases the risk of hypothermia if you become submerged. Accidents can easily happen especially in rough and windy conditions. Keep in mind that you’ll be looking up at the sky in the dark and it’s hard to do that and also notice waves or obstacles. If you want water to be part of your eclipse experience consider staying on the shoreline rather than venturing out on the lake. Read these articles in the Plattsburgh Press Republican and the Burlington Free Press if you’re considering being on the water for the eclipse. If you do take to the water be well prepared, stay within your abilities and those of your crew, check the forecast and revise plans accordingly, file a float plan, wear a well-fitted PFD, and follow clean-drain-dry boating practices. First responders could be stretched thin because of the anticipated visitors and traffic.
The designated viewing areas listed in this email are in scenic outdoor settings, all with clear views of the eclipse (potential clouds notwithstanding) and make excellent, low-impact alternatives to the backcountry and cold water.
LEAVE NO TRACE & BE SAFE
No matter where you watch the eclipse from, keep in mind the Leave No Trace ethos:
- Plan ahead and prepare – it’s likely that restaurants and grocery stores will be extra busy the day of the eclipse. Lighten their loads by packing food and water with you for potential travels.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces - It’s mud season! Be careful driving on dirt roads, of which there are plenty in the Lake Champlain region.
- Dispose of waste properly—If there are no trash facilities on-site, always carry out what you carry in!
- Leave what you find—Take pictures rather than foraged mementos.
- Respect wildlife—Check out this piece from the ADK Explorer on how solar eclipses affect wildlife, and keep an eye out for diurnal species settling in for the night and nocturnal species becoming active.
- Be considerate of others—We’ll all be watching the sky, but watch out for fellow eclipse enjoyers as well!
Proper eyewear is essential to safely view the solar eclipse. Deck yourself out like the LCC team in solar eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-1 International Standard – a necessity to avoid permanent eye damage.
SAFETY
Protect Your Eyes
Proper eye protection is required for eclipse viewing. Viewing the sun during the partial phases of the eclipse before and after totality without proper protection can cause blindness or permanent eye damage. You can only view the eclipse directly when the Moon completely covers the Sun – during the brief period known as totality. It’s safe to look only when you cannot see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer. Immediately put your glasses back on or use your solar viewer as soon as the sun begins to reappear after totality.
NASA cautions to “Not look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or another optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer – the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.”
Get Your Eclipse Glasses In Advance
If you don’t have your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer yet, contact your municipal office or library to see if they have any available. Regular sunglasses--even very dark or polarized ones that offer 100% UV protection--are not safe or suitable. Proper eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses and should be a specific grade that protects eyes from viewing the sun directly and meet the ISO 12312-1 International Standard. While some eclipse viewing events will have glasses available the day of, it’s critical to come prepared with your own. Find sources for eclipse glasses in Vermont here and information and resources on viewing in the Adirondacks here. Inspect your eclipse glasses or viewer before use and discard them if they’re torn, bent, scratched or damaged in any way.
For more information on eclipse glasses and how to view an eclipse, check out this comprehensive guide from the American Astronomical Society and NASA’s eclipse eye safety tips.
Repurpose Your Solar Eclipse Glasses
After you’ve experienced the magic of the universe viewing the total eclipse, don’t trash your glasses! Astronomers Without Borders runs a recycling and distribution program for gently used solar glasses.
Protect Your Skin
Wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing even if it’s a cloudy day. Find more sun safety tips from the US Food and Drug Administration here.
Traffic
In addition to viewing safety, New York and Vermont state officials anticipate lots of travelers coming to the region for the eclipse. With crowds come safety considerations, especially in rural and small urban areas that are not used to large influxes of people. Check with local municipalities about potential road closures and be prepared for extra travel time due to traffic. New York and Vermont have both put out more information on staying safe and preparing for the day of the eclipse.
COMMUNITY SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES
You can help scientists gather information about what happens during an eclipse by sharing your experiences! SciStarter, a global online community science hub, is running a solar eclipse safari to gather information about how animals react during the eclipse. The total time commitment is less than three hours – 15 minutes to prepare, one to two hours to observe, and 10 minutes to report post-event. Eclipse Soundscapes, a NASA community science program, is seeking volunteers to collect observations and record sound data. Learn more about the role(s) you can play—there are opportunities for wannabe apprentices, observers, data collectors, data analysts, and facilitators—at this link.
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!
A total solar eclipse is an astounding natural event and if you’re in the path of totality you may just want to take it in and leave the photography to experts. However, if you plan to take pictures be sure to prepare in advance for safe photography. You’ll find a guide for photographers at Maine Public and tips for more casual observers using smartphone cameras at Space.com. If you do safely capture photos of this historic event—especially with a Lake Champlain backdrop—we’d love to see them. You can share them with us through this link.
REGIONAL TOTAL ECLIPSE GUIDES
If you’re searching for places to go or want to dive in deeper, check out the
Adirondack Explorer’s Total Eclipse Primer and Seven Days’ 2024 Solar Eclipse Guide.
We hope you enjoy this wonder of the universe on 4/8/24!
The LCC Team
Lori, Jared, Alexa, Eileen, and Rei
Copyright © 2024 Lake Champlain Committee, All rights reserved.
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