North America will soon be treated to two major solar eclipses when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align. On both occasions, nearly everyone in the continental United States will experience at least a partial solar eclipse. On October 14, 2023, the dark new moon is too small to cover the solar disk, leaving a ring or annulus of sunlight surrounding the moon at mid-eclipse. Then, on April 8th, 2024, the new moon will cover all of the solar disk, plunging over 30 million Americans (including over 12 million Texans) into darkness for up to 4 and a half minutes. Texas gets both!
Both eclipses will be deep partial eclipses in Houston- with 84% and 94% of the Sun obscured respectively. This is the first total solar eclipse visible from Texas since 1878. The HMNS Astronomy Dept. is hosting unique, safe, and educational solar eclipse experiences to prepare the public and school groups to observe these events.
