Guide to the 2024 Total Eclipse

Guide to the 2024
Total Eclipse  

 Written by Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri, Communicatons intern

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A giant form passes through the skies of New Brunswick, shifting in front of another celestial presence. A shadow stretches from the summit at Mount Carleton to the southern shore of Grand Lake, casting a 150 kilometre-wide umbra band across the landscape.

It’s the middle of the day, but the sky turns pitch black, and stars shine as though dusk is well behind. ‘Totality,’ it’s called—the moment the earth, moon and sun align to create a total eclipse.     

Chris Kerwin, a lifelong stargazing enthusiast and amateur astronomer, says a sight as spectacular as what’s in store for New Brunswick skies on April 8 comes about only once a lifetime. 

"It's completely magical,” Kerwin says. “There's nothing, in my opinion, that's a bigger celestial event than seeing the sun completely blocked.” 

With an event this significant on the horizon, why settle for a dim view when you can have front row seats to the celestial show of the century? Read on for your guide to taking in the 2024 total eclipse, including what equipment you’ll need to stay safe, and our recommendation for the best Nature Trust nature preserves to experience totality in tranquility and free of light pollution. Grab your shades and prepare for an event so stellar, it's bound to eclipse all others!  

How big of a deal is this? 

Total solar eclipses happen globally every 12 to 18 months, yet at any specific location, they occur only once in a generation at most, often taking several decades or even hundreds of years to recur. After this April, the next one expected over New Brunswick skies won’t be until 2079, according to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, New Brunswick.  

Moreover, the upcoming eclipse is set to outshine all of its celestial peers, as it is twice as long as the 2017 Great American eclipse, at a whopping maximum total duration of 4 minutes and 28 seconds. 

When will totality happen? 

It's important to know that the eclipse will occur at different times depending on your location. For those in the Fredericton Capital Region, you can witness the start of the eclipse at 3:24 p.m. The beginning of the eclipse is called "first contact," which marks the first time the moon touches the edge of the sun.  

As the moon moves and covers a portion of the sun, we enter the next stage which is called partiality. The totality stage, when the moon completely covers the sun, will begin at 4:33 p.m. and reach maximum eclipse at 4:35 p.m. 

Kerwin recommends the Time and Date website to check in detail at what time the eclipse will occur at your location and how long each stage will last. 

Where to see it 

It's important to note that not all parts of the province will experience 100 per cent totality during the eclipse. Eclipse-chasers also need to consider that the visibility of the eclipse is affected by light pollution. So, where is the best spot for the best eclipse experience? In nature, tucked away from city lights and surrounded by natural beauty, of course!

Photo of Ferris Street Forest Nature Preserve.

For all the astronomy enthusiasts out there, the Nature Trust recommends a couple of prime nature preserves within the totality range.

First, Ferris Street Nature Preserve, located on the edge of the northside of Fredericton, is just a bus ride away. Ferris Street ranks in category 5 on the 9-level Bortle dark-sky scale (with 1 being the darkest), so still a suburban space, but its surrounding Wabanaki/Acadian Forest and beautiful wetland provide a wonderful backdrop for the event.

Second, farther away from the city, lies the Margaret (Coburn) Cameron Woods Nature Preserve in Keswick Ridge, ranking class 4 on the Bortle scale, dark enough to see the zodiacal light (a faint, diffuse glow in the night sky caused by sunlight reflecting off cosmic dust in the solar system). This preserve offers a lovely trail through Appalachian Hardwood Forest of sugar maple (Acer saccharum), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), white ash (Fraxinus americana), which opens up into a field with a clear view of the sky for an immersive eclipse experience.  

If you can’t make it to one of our nature preserves, check to see if your local community is organizing anything—lots of municipalities, like Fredericton and Florenceville, are hosting eclipse-themed festivals. You can also check out the Light Pollution Map to see what places will provide the least light pollution near you.

How to see it (be safe!) 

Whether you go see it alone, with your family or friends, the eclipse lends itself to both a social and solo adventure. What is not optional, however, is protection.  

Eyewear is a must when looking at the eclipse, as you will be vis-à-vis with the sun. Glancing at a solar eclipse without any eye protection can result in severe and lasting damage to your eyes, so don't risk it. Instead, make sure you have specialized eclipse glasses. The Royal Astronomical Society is recommending eclipse glasses which have a label of ISO 12312-2.  

Readers in the Fredericton region can get eclipse-safe glasses at a couple of places. Science East is selling kid-friendly glasses on-site, and for those attending Eclipse Fest, ISO-certified glasses will be provided for free.  

Kerwin also said there are other factors eclipse-chasers should consider when going out to look at this celestial event. As the eclipse takes place in April, it is important to layer up to avoid getting cold, as the total duration of the eclipse–from first contact to end–is more than two hours long. 

Look up 

By day, Kerwin works for a telephone company, but after dark, he gears up to look at the sparkling night sky. Equipped with his own telescope, he’s shared his passion for astronomy on his Facebook page, Astronomy by the Bay, for nine years, where he organizes stargazing events and promotes astronomical publications. 

The beautiful night sky.

With the province having a front-row seat to this year's total eclipse, Kerwin encourages people to take full advantage of this special moment and just look up (with the right safety glasses, of course!). 

"Get out and enjoy the eclipse,” Kerwin says. “You're not going to see anything like this again. Just look up and enjoy what Mother Nature gives us." 

As a final word of advice, Kerwin urges folks not to worry about photographing the eclipse, especially since many astronomical institutions will have high-quality pictures after the event. 

"It's about experiencing this whole magical thing with your own eyes and yourself standing in the middle of it all.”