Fifty-five years from today will be a memorable day for the Pine Barrens and most of South Jersey. Few of us will be around to witness it, but for our descendants, if the weather cooperates, they will see something unforgettable.
Although North Jersey had a total solar eclipse in 1925, the last time there was one visible in South Jersey was on July 29, 1478. After six centuries, the wait will finally end on May 1, 2079 with about two minutes of totality. I can almost hear the "meh-ing" in certain quarters, but even by the standards of total solar eclipses, this one will have something special.
Early on that Monday morning in May, there will not be a normal sunrise. Instead, people will see the sun either already in totality or in the process of going into totality. At Tabernacle, it looks as if totality will begin before the sun has fully risen. With the eclipsed sun so low on the horizon, the Abramses of 2079 might have a better view if they head east or northeast to a location on the shore. To watch the sun go into totality as it rises from the Atlantic would be stunning.
(Seeing it from the fire tower at Apple Pie Hill wouldn't be so bad either. Perhaps a lottery could be run with a few lucky winners getting to watch from the tower. Then again, New York City is close to the center of the path of totality. I have no doubt that tickets to watch the eclipse from one of the observation areas in the Empire State Building will be very reasonably priced.
)
With the average time between total solar eclipses in any given spot on earth being about 375 years, six centuries is a long time to wait. It could be worse, though. Los Angeles has to wait until April 1, 3290...no fooling.
Here is a link to what it will look like from Seaside Heights: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/seaside-heights?iso=20790501
There is an animation of the eclipse on that page. Click the bottom right to set it in full screen, and just imagine the ocean at the bottom of the screen. I'm glad to have finally witnessed totality last month, but am still envious of those who get to see this one.
(The good news for non-eclipse fans is that it will all be over here in about an hour. They can set their alarms for 7 AM and pretend it is just another Monday morning. It will be another sixty-five years until the next total solar eclipse here in 2144.)
Although North Jersey had a total solar eclipse in 1925, the last time there was one visible in South Jersey was on July 29, 1478. After six centuries, the wait will finally end on May 1, 2079 with about two minutes of totality. I can almost hear the "meh-ing" in certain quarters, but even by the standards of total solar eclipses, this one will have something special.
Early on that Monday morning in May, there will not be a normal sunrise. Instead, people will see the sun either already in totality or in the process of going into totality. At Tabernacle, it looks as if totality will begin before the sun has fully risen. With the eclipsed sun so low on the horizon, the Abramses of 2079 might have a better view if they head east or northeast to a location on the shore. To watch the sun go into totality as it rises from the Atlantic would be stunning.
(Seeing it from the fire tower at Apple Pie Hill wouldn't be so bad either. Perhaps a lottery could be run with a few lucky winners getting to watch from the tower. Then again, New York City is close to the center of the path of totality. I have no doubt that tickets to watch the eclipse from one of the observation areas in the Empire State Building will be very reasonably priced.
)With the average time between total solar eclipses in any given spot on earth being about 375 years, six centuries is a long time to wait. It could be worse, though. Los Angeles has to wait until April 1, 3290...no fooling.
Here is a link to what it will look like from Seaside Heights: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/seaside-heights?iso=20790501
There is an animation of the eclipse on that page. Click the bottom right to set it in full screen, and just imagine the ocean at the bottom of the screen. I'm glad to have finally witnessed totality last month, but am still envious of those who get to see this one.
(The good news for non-eclipse fans is that it will all be over here in about an hour. They can set their alarms for 7 AM and pretend it is just another Monday morning. It will be another sixty-five years until the next total solar eclipse here in 2144.)
