There’s Still Time For A Trip To See The Total Solar Eclipse In Ohio

04.04.2024 - 17:07 / forbes.com

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible within parts of North America. If weather is permitting and there aren’t cloudy skies, total visibility will start along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. In the United States, the path of totality, which is the narrow ribbon of places where the full eclipse can be viewed, goes from Texas to Maine. NASA is offering a map that shows the path of totality as well as a timetable of when the eclipse should appear in some of the major locations where it can be viewed.

If you have never experienced a total eclipse but want to do so, it’s not too late to schedule a last-minute trip to enjoy it. After all, we’re not expected to have another total eclipse that’s visible in the U.S. for nearly a decade, and that one will only be visible from the U.S. in the state of Alaska. Beyond that, the next one is in 2044.

This 2024 eclipse will be the first time a total solar eclipse is visible from Ohio in 208 years. Some places booked up for the eclipse months in advance. However, you can still plan a last-minute trip to some cool and sometimes overlooked destinations in the path of totality in Ohio that are just as much fun the most known cities.

One spot to consider is Mansfield, a charming city in the foothills of the Allegheny Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains. Spectrum News 1 reported that the eclipse will start in Mansfield at 1:57 p.m. EST and plunge the city into darkness when it reaches totality at 3:12 p.m. That cover of darkness should last for about 3 minutes, 16 seconds as the moon passes between the sun and Earth. It will conceal the sun from view completely during that time. The overall eclipse should be over at 4:27 p.m.

While thousands of visitors are already expected in this north central Ohio city and its neighboring Richland County villages for the eclipse, there is still some availability, and you’ll find dozens of fun ways to celebrate the eclipse while there. Many local venues have planned events and crafted special menus.

Here are some places in Mansfield where you can view or celebrate the total solar eclipse.

If you want to start your celebrations early in the day, the Ohio Bird Sanctuary will kick things off with Total Eclipse Yoga at 8:30 a.m. This class is led by the center’s director and will cost $10 per person.

A pop-up art gallery and eclipse viewing party combine in a fun way in downtown Mansfield for this event at the Luminous City studio lot. Hosted by Mankind Murals Inc., the gathering at 88 North Diamond Street will showcase the eclipse-themed artwork of over a dozen local artists. A DJ will be playing fun music. There are planned patio games and selfie stations. A limited number of solar eclipse glasses will be provided on a