A Total Solar Eclipse Will Be Visible Above Tennessee This Spring
By Chris Dodge|Published February 06, 2024
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
You might have heard that you should never stare at the sun, but this year you will finally have the chance to “see” our solar system’s brightest star… sort of. Why, you ask? Well, we are going to be experiencing a total solar eclipse in 2024 in Tennessee! This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you won’t want to miss. Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 solar eclipse in Tennessee, plus a few of my recommendations on where to see the best views.
The total solar eclipse is happening on April 8, 2024. The eclipse will take place in stages and will start around 12:37 p.m. CST and end around 4:26 p.m. CST, with the total eclipse visible from 1:58 p.m. CST to 2 p.m. CST. This is a rare event where the moon will appear bigger than the sun for a brief period and completely block out the light from the sun, plunging the whole area into darkness.
There are a few things that make this eclipse special, other than showing up above our Tennessee skies. Some people in our country will be experiencing a full total eclipse which doesn’t happen very often, so this might be your only chance. The sun’s corona, which is the outermost atmosphere of the sun, will be visible, which is significant because most of the time the sun is too bright to see it.
The path of totality is what you are ultimately looking for. This is the path throughout our country where you will be able to see the total eclipse.
Within the range of totality, you will be able to witness this rare cosmic event without the use of solar eclipse glasses. If you find yourself out of range then you will need to wear them and also have a filter on any cameras or telescopes used.
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As for the path of totality, the only place it will be in Tennessee is the far northwestern corner near Missouri and the Kentucky state lines.
The closer you are to the path of totality, the better viewing you will get. Reelfoot Lake State Park is a great place to take out your vessel of choice and witness this phenomenon from the water. Or get even closer and get out on the mighty Mississippi River for a better view.
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The total eclipse takes place on a Monday, so you can even make a long weekend out of it. Take some time by getting away to this lakeside rental to fully enjoy this wonderful part of the Volunteer State.
If you are interested in the brief precious minutes we will be blanketed in complete darkness, a trip to Pickett CCC Memorial State Park will be the perfect place for you.
This is a place that is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park and the best place in the state to see the stars above. During the eclipse, you will only get a peek at the wonder in the heavens that will be visible to you at night.
I remember an eclipse when I was a kid, and I’m not just talking about the Bonnie Tyler kind (dad joke!), but I didn’t appreciate it nearly as much as I should have at the time. However, now we have a rare opportunity to witness this glorious event and you won’t want to miss it because it won’t be visible in the United States again until 2044.
Will you be catching the solar eclipse in 2024 in Tennessee? This is a fascinating event you definitely want to be ready for!
As we look up to the skies on April 8, 2024, we will be seeing something truly amazing, but in a role reversal check out these photos of Tennessee from space.
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