View 2024's solar eclipse in Asheville-area dark sky certified park; one of the only in NC
Millions of Americans will be in the path of the April 8 total eclipse — the first eclipse for all of North America since 2017.
Asheville may not be in the path of totality, but some of the best opportunities to learn about the celestial event are taking place in the area — including an event with a retired astronaut.
Yet, Western North Carolina also has the opportunity to see the night sky in a unique way — that is, in a dark sky certified park.
The Asheville-area has one of the only dark sky certified parks in North Carolina — Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, or PARI.
Dark sky certified parks are certified by the International Dark Sky association as "protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education."
The only other parks with dark sky certification in North Carolina is Cape Lookout National Seashore and Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory.
Dark Sky Week is a "worldwide celebration of the dark and natural light," as light pollution grows to effect the night sky, according to the International Dark Sky Association website. This year's "Dark Sky Week" will take place from April 2 to April 8 — coinciding with the total annular eclipse.
Over the next three months, PARI will host three dark sky astronomy nights, where amateur astronomers will be able to visit the institute with their own viewing equipment. The events cost $15 to attend.
For the eclipse, PARI will host a day-long event during which eclipse watchers can pay to view and learn about the solar event from 11 a.m to 4:30 p.m. on April 8.
Tickets for the event start at $40 for children 12 and under, and $80 for adults. The day-long event includes an eclipse education session, lunch and a guided museum tour in the afternoon.
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The eclipse will be partially visible - don't forget your glasses
While Western North Carolina will not be within the eclipse's path of totality, it will cover roughly 87% of the sun's disk in the Asheville area, according to Eclipse2024.org, a website dedicated to providing information from eclipse experts and eclipse chasers.
On April 8, the eclipse will start to dim the sun's light at 1:51 p.m. Maximum coverage from the eclipse will take place at 3:09 p.m., when the moon will cover most of the sun's disk in the Asheville-area. The eclipse ends at 4:24 p.m.
All eclipse watchers need proper ISO rated 12,312 glasses to view the eclipse, as staring at the eclipse without protection can cause severe eye injury or blindness.
However, other options to watch the eclipse are available, such as pinhole and optical projections from the sun's light. The American Astronomical Society has directions on how to safely view or create devices to view the eclipse at https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection.
Looking for glasses? Look no further: Everything you need to know about solar eclipse glasses, including where to get them
A once-in-a-lifetime comet comes into view
Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks, also known as the "devil comet," will be just out of the viewing timeline, yet the celestial event will arguably be as interesting.
The comet is making its first pass over Earth since June 1954 and will likely not make its return until 2095, according to NASA. This April, when it will be brightest, will be one of the few opportunities to view the rare comet.
The comet earns its name for its "horn-like" emissions of dust and ice, which create a stream that has often been compared to a horseshoe or Star Wars' Millennium Falcon.
Sun-orbiting comets are made of dust and ice that stream away from its "nucleus" or its solid frozen core, according to NASA. The Astronomy Club of Asheville noted the comet may be visible during the eclipse to the left of the sun.
Upcoming local star gazes
The Astronomy Club of Asheville, in conjunction with the University of North Carolina Asheville, will be hosting three star gazing events in March, giving the public free opportunities to learn more about our universe. Here's when you can go:
March 1: Held at Lookout Observatory on the UNCA campus. The event is free but requires pre-registration. The sun will set at 6:25 p.m. with shuttle service starting at 7:15 p.m.
March 8: Held at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County. The event is free and requires no registration. A gate code required for entry will be posted on the Astronomy Club of Asheville website day of the event.
March 29: Held at Lookout Observatory on the UNCA campus. The event is free but requires pre-registration. The sun will set at 7:49 p.m. with shuttle service starting "about 8:30 p.m."
While star gazes with the club are free, some require pre-registration to attend. If weather prevents star gazes, back-up dates are provided.
You can learn more about registering at the UNCA Lookout Observatory website at lookoutobservatory.unca.edu/upcoming-stargazes/ and more about the Astronomy Club of Asheville at www.astroasheville.org.
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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Solar eclipse 2024: Asheville star gazing, dark sky park, and more
