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What time is the Solar Eclipse in Central Wisconsin?

April 4, 2024

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Solar Eclipse in Central Wisconsin

MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – On April 8, a total eclipse will sweep across the United States. It will be the last such event until 2044.

In Marshfield, there will be max percentage coverage of 80.4%, according to NASA. The eclipse will start in Marshfield at 12:52pm, reach max coverage at 2:06pm, and conclude at 3:18pm. Don’t forget to protect your eyes with eclipse glasses!

Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t look favorable, with 92% cloud cover predicted as of Thursday morning’s forecast. To find specific Eclipse times, check out NASA’s Eclipse Explorer Tool on their website.

Why is this Solar Eclipse so Special?

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow on our planet. This phenomenon only occurs during a New Moon phase. The Moon’s orbit is tilted about 5 degrees relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, making solar eclipses relatively rare occurrences. Among them, Total and Annular eclipses are even rarer, with Hybrid eclipses being the rarest of all.

Understanding the distinction between a Total and Annular solar eclipse requires grasping the elliptical nature of the Moon’s orbit around Earth. The Moon’s distance from Earth varies between approximately 221,000 and 252,000 miles, causing its apparent size in our sky to fluctuate by about 13%. During times when the Moon is closer to Earth, its visual size can exceed that of the Sun, resulting in a Total solar eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the Sun’s disk, revealing the magnificent solar corona.

However, it’s crucial to note that the Moon’s shadow becomes narrower as it extends from the Moon to Earth, forming a cone shape. Thus, the path of totality on Earth is narrow and short-lived due to the Moon’s swift movement away from the perfect alignment between the Sun and Earth.

In contrast, an Annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is closer to its farthest point from Earth in its orbit. In this scenario, the Moon appears smaller than the Sun, and its shadow may not reach Earth entirely. Instead, what reaches Earth is the antumbral or “negative” shadow, resulting in a thin ring or annulus of sunlight surrounding the Moon. While Annular eclipses are still spectacular, they lack the visibility of the solar corona due to the brightness of the annulus.

Hybrid eclipses are exceptionally rare because they involve a transition between Annular and Total eclipses along the eclipse path. This transition occurs due to Earth’s curvature, causing it to move through both the antumbral (Annular) and umbral (Total) shadows at different points along the eclipse path.

It’s crucial to emphasize that observing a solar eclipse with the naked eye can cause serious eye damage. Instead, always use approved solar filters or alternative safe methods, such as projecting the Sun’s image through a pinhole onto a surface. Only during the brief period of totality is it safe to view a solar eclipse without filters. Ensure any filters used adhere to the International Standard ISO 12312-2. The next solar eclipse visible in the United States will take place on April 8, 2024.

Upcoming Eclipses, according to Weather.gov:

04/08/2024	Total	4 min 28 sec	1.057	Northern Mexico, Texas to New England, north Atlantic
10/02/2024	Annular	7 min 25 sec	0.933	Southeast Pacific, far southern South America
02/17/2026	Annular	2 min 20 sec	0.963	Antarctica
08/12/2026	Total	2 min 18 sec	1.039	Arctic, eastern Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain
02/06/2027	Annular	7 min 51 sec	0.928	South Pacific, southern Chile, southern Argentina, south Atlantic
08/02/2027	Total	6 min 23 sec	1.079	Central Atlantic, Mediterranean region, Egypt, Red Sea area