RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Today's the day to view the eclipse! While the Rutherford County Schools decided to shutdown today, the Murfreesboro City Schools will be open and ready to view the astronomical event... That was Lisa Trail, Communications Director for the Murfreesboro City Schools (Scroll down to see 2017 photo of eclipse was viewed in Murfreesboro).
Throughout Rutherford County, the eclipse will start during the end of the lunch hour at 12:44 PM. Trail told us... Overall, in Murfreesboro will be able to enjoy the eclipse throughout the afternoon... And as the children watch and learn about the solar eclipse, they will eat a special treat...
SAFETY - When heading outside, it's important to remember to use caution when viewing the solar eclipse (See NASA Safety Information HERE). Also, keep in mind that the short window to view the full totality in most of the states marked by NASA as key sites for viewing lasts for only a few minutes, and the duration of the totality gets shorter and shorter as the path progresses upwards from Texas to Maine.
OVERALL VIEWING - The moon will pass in front of the Sun, temporarily obscuring it from view. As the solar eclipse occurs, darkness will fall on states and cities across the nation as if it suddenly became night.
Having the opportunity to see a solar eclipse is rare, but it's even rarer to see a total solar eclipse. Viewing the totality of the eclipse will only be possible in 15 states on Monday. The first area to see the total eclipse will be Texas. In fact, those in the Lone Star State will have the longest window of viewing, lasting for about 4 minutes and 20 seconds. After it passes over Texas, viewers in the bottom southeast portion of Oklahoma and the lower to midwestern area of Arkansas will be able to watch the totality of the event at around 1:45 PM. Viewing in Arkansas will continue as the path progresses to the middle of the Razorback State at 1:51 PM.
In Tennessee, traveling to the very northwestern portion of the Volunteer State will pay off as that will be the best place to see the event. Residents in Tiptonville, TN, can view the totality as it starts at 12:40 PM with the max viewing of the eclipse at 1:59 PM. If looking at a map, search for "Port of Cates Landing" in Tiptonville or look for the historic "Island No. 10" marker, which forms the border between Missouri and Tennessee.
In the lower southeast portion of Missouri, totality will begin at 1:54 PM. The path of viewing will cover portions of Illinois and extend into Kentucky, west of Louisville at around 3:05 PM (totality). If you're in Indiana, Indianapolis will be a key viewing spot with totality beginning at 3:06 PM and ending at 3:10 PM on Monday. The path moving upwards towards the northeast will cover portions of Dayton, Ohio, at 3:09 PM, followed by Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, at 3:13 PM.
Other viewing locations will include portions of Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and finally Maine. Viewers in the Pine Tree State (Maine) can take in the totality at 3:30 PM with max viewing beginning at 3:32 PM. That max view will start to end at 3:33 PM for those in Maine.
KEY AREAS - The U.S. states that are in the path of totality for the eclipse include: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and residents in small portions of Tennessee and Michigan can view the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.