It’s finally here: The most eagerly awaited astronomical event of recent decades in Quebec is just around the corner. During the afternoon of April 8, the southern part of the province will be plunged into an eerie daytime darkness for a few minutes.
The total solar eclipse happening that day will be the first of its kind in Quebec since 1972. The last time a similar phenomenon occurred on the island of Montreal was in 1932, and the next one isn’t due to happen until 2205! That’s how rare total solar eclipses are. They occur every year or two somewhere in the world, but the zone of visibility of this “totality” is geographically limited: within a long, narrow corridor across the surface of the Earth. In the case of the April 8 eclipse, the so-called “path of totality” is just 180 kilometres wide, but stretches more than 14,700 kilometres from the Pacific to the Atlantic. It travels mostly over water, crossing only a few states in Mexico and the United States, and the provinces of Eastern Canada. However, on either side of the path of totality there is a wide zone where the eclipse is partial.
Why so much emphasis on the total eclipse location? Because even a 99.9% partial eclipse doesn’t come close to providing 99.9% of the experience of a total eclipse. That little something that makes a total eclipse so special will always be missing: the darkness that descends suddenly in broad daylight, the planets and stars that light up above our heads, the 360-degree sunset colours, and, at the heart of this spectacular sight, the black lunar disc surrounded by the Sun’s magnificent, diaphanous corona unfurling its gossamer mother-of-pearl ribbons in every direction. But what will be missing most of all is that visceral reaction that only totality can provoke. Basically, the difference between a partial eclipse and a total eclipse is night and day! A total solar eclipse isn’t just something to observe, it’s something to be deeply experienced.
The April 8 eclipse represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness one of nature’s most moving spectacles, without having to travel thousands of kilometres or spend a fortune. However, in the Greater Montreal area, almost half the population (45%) is outside the zone of total eclipse: This includes the citizens of Laval and the North Shore, as well as people in the east end of the island of Montreal. Refer to the maps on our website to find out where you’re located in relation to the path of totality: If you’re outside the zone, we encourage you (if you can) to move into the path to fully experience the total eclipse. Plan your April 8 activities in advance, and don’t hesitate to get the whole family involved to make it an unforgettable day. The Planetarium team will be on site at Parc Jean-Drapeau, near the Biosphère, and ready to entertain the public with a host of activities and a festive artistic lineup befitting this unique event.
What about you? Where will you be on April 8?
After the eclipse
Once the eclipse is over, the dust will settle on April 8; the Earth will continue to spin on its axis and the Moon and planets to move along their orbits. The next evening, on April 9, in the half hour after sunset, try to spot the whisker-thin crescent Moon, low on the western horizon. As you look between the horns of the crescent Moon and observe the ashen glow that lights the lunar disc, take a moment to reflect on how this is the same Moon that blocked out the Sun just 28 hours earlier and give thanks for the wonderful show we got to witness. Then shift your gaze about 12 degrees to the Moon’s upper left and you’ll see the very brilliant Jupiter “winking” down at you. The gap between the giant planet and the Sun narrows from one day to the next, and Jupiter appears progressively lower with each passing evening. In a few weeks, Jupiter will disappear in the glare of the setting Sun. On the evening of April 10, the crescent Moon lies 4 degrees to the upper right of the giant planet; admire this spectacular duo at nightfall, above the western horizon.
Clear skies, and enjoy the eclipse!
