If you’re going to be in totality for a few minutes this April 8 then spend 30 seconds of your time trying to see planets and a comet during the darkness.
When the moon blocks the sun for a few minutes on April 8, those lucky enough to be in the path of totality will experience darkness in the day and the sun’s corona sparking above. However, also on show during totality (only) will be a bevy of planets and a comet.
Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn and Mars will all be relatively close to the sun. That’s all seven of the other planets in the solar system! As a bonus, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will be close to one of them.Importance Of The Path Of Totality
To even stand a chance of seeing anything of interest during this eclipse you must be inside this 115 miles wide path of totality (below) through five states in northern Mexico, parts of 15 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces:
If you are outside this path—even if you’re close to it and see a 99% partial solar eclipse—you will see nothing mentioned here. No totality, no darkness, no corona, no planets (OK, maybe one), no comet. Just a “smiley face” sun through eclipse glasses.
So, get to the path!How And When To See The Sun’s Corona
When: during totality.
Planet-spotting during totality is fun, and because totality will last over three minutes for some, there is time to find them during the brief darkness.
