When will the next solar eclipse be visible in the St. Louis area? The next eclipse will be a partial eclipse on 1/26/2028 with only 3.4% of it visible. The next best partial will be on 1/14/29 with about 55% of it visible. The next annular eclipse will be 6/14/2121 with 94.8% visibility. The next total eclipse will be 6/3/2505. See the eclipse calculators on the resource page for more information and a complete list of all upcoming solar and lunar eclipses.
Is it ever safe to view a solar eclipse without protective solar eclipse glasses? It is only safe during a total eclipse when the eclipse is in totality. Unfortunately, the Fort Zumwalt area will not be in the path of totality so there will never be a time that it is safe to view the eclipse without proper eyewear.
Why is it so dangerous to look at a solar eclipse with the naked eye or improper equipment? Keep in mind that it is never safe to view the Sun. On any day, viewing unfiltered rays of the Sun can cause permanent damage such as burnt retinas, cataracts, corneal damage, and macular degeneration. During a solar eclipse, the layer of the Sun called the corona is visible. Normally, we do not see this layer. So even though the Sun is not as bright, the intense radiation given off by the corona can do major damage. The Sun is not necessarily more dangerous during a solar eclipse, it's just easier to look at because it's not as bright. Damage can be permanent or temporary and sometimes doesn't appear until years later. It is very common for one not to feel discomfort when looking at the Sun so there is no indication that damage is occurring. This is because the retina does not have any pain receptors. Symptoms will generally start to occur 12 hours after viewing an eclipse, but sometimes symptoms start months later. For more information, see this article from Dr. Kuo from the Wilmer Eye Institution at Johns Hopkins Medicine, this article by Scientific American, or this one from NASA. For a more detailed technical report, the American Astronomical Society has prepared this report on Solar Eclipse Eye Safety. The majority of people who reported eye damage after an eclipse reported that they didn't view it safely.
Is it safe to be outside during a solar eclipse? Yes, it is safe to be outside. Some people are afraid of "eclipse rays" that will damage their eyes instantly just by being outside. This is not true. It is safe to walk outside and look forward. Only looking at the Sun can cause issues.
What was the number of people in the United States who had eye damage due to the 2017 eclipse? An informal survey went out to eyecare professionals across the US and Canada. It was reported that there were about 100 cases of eclipse-related retinopathy. Around 215 million people viewed that eclipse. Advances in eye care allowed for the localization of damage for those patients so no one ended up with permanent damage. In 2001, the eclipse in the United Kingdom reported about 70 patients with eclipse-related retinopathy. All patients in the UK recovered their vision after several weeks. In both cases, the injuries were caused because people did not follow proper eclipse viewing protocols. During the 2017 eclipse, Fort Zumwalt trained students, staff, and faculty on how to properly view the eclipse with district-issued eclipse glasses. They will follow the same protocol in April.
What is the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse? A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks the Sun's light from getting to the Moon. Everyone (half the Earth) experiencing night can view the Moon growing dark. These are safe to view. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun's light from hitting the Earth. Only a narrow band (about 60 miles) of people can witness the daytime getting dark. For more information about how they are different and how they are formed, click here.
Why are eclipses so rare? The Moon, Earth, and Sun do not orbit around each other in a flat plane. There is a tilt to their orbits so they only line up perfectly to block light from the Sun. This can only happen during the new moon phase (solar eclipse) and the full moon phase (lunar eclipse). Most of the time during those phases the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not in a perfect line due to the Moon's 5-degree tilt in its orbit. Since oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, most people do not see solar eclipses when they occur. See this Solar and Lunar Eclipse tutorial for more information.
What is the difference between a partial, annular, and total solar eclipse? How far the moon is from the Earth helps to determine the type of solar eclipse. In a total eclipse, the moon completely blocks the face of the Sun and is closer to Earth than in the other two types. In an annular eclipse, the moon is further away from Earth and doesn't completely cover the Sun. However, it's in the center of it so a larger ring appears around the Sun. During a partial eclipse, the moon only blocks a portion of the Sun. The three are not in a line. See slide 5 on this Solar and Lunar Eclipse tutorial for more information.
What happens to wildlife during a solar eclipse? When a total eclipse reaches totality, nocturnal wildlife sometimes wakes up thinking it's nighttime. Non-noctural wildlife might think it's time to head to bed.
Are animals safe outside during an eclipse? Yes, animals will not look at the Sun.
For more FAQs, visit NASA's Eclipse 101 page.