The total solar eclipse “Map of Nope” teaches America about the true meaning of April 8’s rare celestial event—and how to best plan a trip to experience it. The brainchild of expert eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler on GreatAmericanEclipse.com has recently become an online phenomenon. There are lots of useful maps for this eclipse amid plenty of helpful eclipse websites, but it’s this one alone that instantly shows the importance of being within the narrow, 115-mile-wide path of totality. On April 8, that path will pass through parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states and Canada.
The “Map of Nope” addresses a big problem: too few people know what a total solar eclipse is, how it works, and, most importantly, where they need to be on April 8. An even bigger problem is that primarily well-meaning public relations and marketing folk promote events, hotels, and cities that will not see the total solar eclipse (the poster child being San Antonio, Texas). This is partly due to event organizers not wanting to miss out. However, it’s also due to ignorance about the difference between a 99% partial eclipse and totality. The result is that people who want to experience the total solar eclipse are being misled.
Precision Is Everything
The difference between experiencing totality and seeing a partial solar eclipse is night and day. For a total solar eclipse, precision is everything—and so is understanding what the word “total” means: complete; absolute. There are many ways of trying to get across the importance of being within the path of totality, but this—to my mind—is the best:
“Totality is like pregnancy,” said Dr. Rick Fienberg, Project Manager of the AAS Solar Eclipse Taskforce, in an interview. “You can’t be 99.9% pregnant—you either experience totality or you don’t.”
Cities that will see a tragically near-yet-so-far 99% partial solar eclipse—not that most of the residents would realize—include San Antonio, Fort Smith, Cincinnati, Columbus, Canton and Youngstown.
Total Versus Partial Solar Eclipse
Only inside the path of totality will the sun be entirely obscured by the moon for up to four and a half minutes. It will get dark, the temperature will drop, and you’ll need to take off your solar eclipse glasses and see, with your naked eyes, the sun’s beautiful, wispy white corona around the moon. It’s the sight of your life. Outside the path of totality—even just a mile beyond the edge—you’ll see a partial solar eclipse only through solar eclipse glasses. It will not get dark. It will not get cold. You will not see the sun’s corona.
For those miles away from the path and unable to travel, there’s no issue here—just grab some solar eclipse glasses and go outside to have a look at the partial eclipse. You probably weren’t ever going to travel a long distance to experience the total solar eclipse, so be happy with the partial.
But for those just outside the path of totality, it’s critical to understand how close you are to something extraordinary. You must move slightly north or south into the path.
America needs the “Map of Nope.”
For the very latest on the total solar eclipse—including travel and lodging options—check my main feed for new articles each day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
