Millions expected to view total solar eclipse across Ohio, North America

Excitement is building for a rare celestial phenomenon that has not occurred in the United States since 2017. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will briefly put parts of the United States, Mexico and Canada in complete darkness.

The Great American Solar Eclipse’s “path of totality” will cut a 150-mile-wide swath across Ohio, beginning about 3 p.m. EDT.

During a total eclipse, said Barrett Caldwell, a professor of industrial engineering and aeronautics at Purdue University, the entire circumference of the sun is blocked by the moon.

“This is one of the most impactful, amazing, visible celestial experiences that a human can have,” he said.

Depending on where in Ohio you’re watching, the event will become visible at about 2 p.m. and last until 4:30 p.m., with the “peak of totality” at 3:15. If you miss this one, you’ll have to wait awhile; the next total eclipse over North America will not be visible until March 2045.

Ophthalmologists are advising those who plan to observe the eclipse to protect their eyes. A 2024 report by JAMA Ophthalmology says serious eye damage, even blindness, can occur if eclipse-specific glasses are not worn. Inexpensive protective eyewear is widely available at many department and convenience stores.

“So, if you’re staring at the sun, you are actually putting lots and lots of that sun’s energy onto your retina, where the rods and cones are that allow you to see,” Caldwell said. “And then, you can burn those rods and cones and cause damage. We don’t have a way of repairing that damage, medically.”

The total eclipse will be visible in Ohio cities including Akron, Bowling Green, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo. A partial eclipse can be seen in Canton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Youngstown and other spots. Public viewing sites will be available in most areas, including state parks and planetariums.

This article was written by Mark Richardson and was originally published on the Ohio News Connection.