TOP FIVE THIGS TO DO AND DECIDE BEFORE APRIL 8TH
1) Get there! Totality is totally awesome!
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From someone who has seen a total solar eclipse, it’s absolutely worth the trip. You have to go back to 1878 to find the last time the state of Texas had a total solar eclipse. Totality occurs when the moon completely covers the sun.
This is the most awe inspiring celestial event you can ever see. Some people I was with got overly emotional. The darkening of the sky can be seen and felt. The environment changes. But you have to be in the narrow path to be a part of this.
2) What to do if you don’t have plans:
I do have bad news.
If you haven’t made plans, hotels are booked, and VRBOs and AirBnBs are going for $3,000/$4,000 a night with some requiring a minimum four night stay. My advice, call up that long lost friend or family member and ask them to share this experience with you.
About 12.8 million people live in the eclipse path in Texas.
If you can’t do that, make the drive Monday morning the 8th. Leave early because traffic will be awful! Houston is 125 miles outside the path and will only get a partial eclipse. 94% of the sun covered is nothing compared to totality. Public parks are free, Bring breakfast and lunch and get comfortable.
Below Is the time for cities closest to Houston.
3) Get solar eclipse glasses now:
Don’t be a procrastinator on this. In 2017 stores and reputable websites ran out of ISO certified glasses. There are only two American companies that manufacture solar eclipse glasses in the U.S. Rainbow Symphony is my go to. They are in Gardena, California. I know the owner and did a story on his company. Be careful ordering from Amazon. Some of the glasses come from other countries and do not block out all of the sun’s dangerous UV rays. One easy way to tell if you have unsafe glasses is when you look through them. If you see any light they are bad.
When you put on safe glasses it will be completely dark. KPRC 2 purchased 10,000 glasses from Rainbow Symphony and will be giving them out to our KPRC 2 Insiders. More on this to come.
4) Don’t rush home:
Traffic will be awful the second the total eclipse ends. The main ways back to Houston are I-45, 290, and I-10. There are smaller roads back but trust me all will be backed up. Consider a long lunch. All restaurants will be booked too. Make a mindset now that you are going to enjoy the day no matter how bad the traffic is this day.
5) Don’t stress about taking pictures:
We’ve all seen award winning pictures of eclipses. You will not get a great picture on your phone. If you know what you are doing and have the right equipment click away. If you don’t simply enjoy what you are seeing. Take it all in. If you are in the path near the center line you’ll get more than 4 minutes of totality. If you take a video, put it in a place that shows people’s reactions. The “oohs” and “ahhs” are a great memory. Plus, there will be many professional photographers who will take excellent pictures of exactly what you saw. Most will be happy to share with you or you can purchase a photo. It will be worth is incredible memory.
If you are in the path you can take your glasses off. And you will see the sun look like this.