PREBLE COUNTY — On Monday, Jan. 8, it will be exactly 3 months until what is being promoted as the “largest mass travel event ever in the United States” makes its way across Preble County.
On Monday, April 8, people within a 124-mile-wide band in the state of Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse, as will people in just 12 other states. Preble County is right in the heart of that path and is expected to be a viewing point for not only local residents, but thousands of visitors outside the path of totality who are eager to experience it.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the earth. The moon causes the light of the sun to be blocked from reaching earth, casting a shadow on earth. A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely blocks the sun. The sun’s outer atmosphere (called the solar corona) glows around the moon when it is blocking the sun.
On April 8, the duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of the “Great American Eclipse” of August 2017, which was viewed by more than 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina, according to officials.
The upcoming 2024 eclipse is anticipated to be witnessed by many millions more.
Many of those millions of people will pass through, and most likely watch the event, here in Preble County, since areas outside the path of totality will only experience a partial eclipse. A total solar eclipse is a rare and spectacular event. On average, one happens every 1.5 years somewhere on Earth. Only 21 total solar eclipses have crossed the lower the lower 48 states in the entire existence of the United States.
The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806. The next total solar eclipse in Ohio will be in the year 2099. For those who want to experience it, this will be the only chance to do so in our lifetime, in our hometowns.
According to Eclipse2024.org, in Eaton, for example, the “partial phase” of the eclipse should begin at 1:52:49 p.m. Totality will begin at 3:08:28 p.m. and is predicted to last approximately 3 minutes, 25 seconds.
It’s the time before and after the eclipse when area businesses and municipalities can capitalize on the potential influx of visitors from outside the county. For this reason, the Preble County Convention and Visitors Bureau has been tapped to lead the marketing campaign to get the word out about local events and eclipse “watch parties,” but also to ensure residents are aware of what is happening on Monday, April 8, and the days prior and following that week.
Countywide planning meetings to discuss public safety, infrastructure and more began months ago. Communities were asked to determine their own plans for the event, including what is going to be done to keep residents safe, control a possible huge influx of visitors and capitalize on a once-in-a-lifetime event.
This is the first in a series of articles from the Preble County Convention & Visitors Bureau which will provide updates on the activities planned throughout the county, the safety measures needed to be taken into consideration including special ISO certified solar eclipse glasses and where to find them, and more. Watch for more information to be published in The Register-Herald in the weeks to come, and keep updated on this and more at www.visitpreblecounty.org.
