We’ll get quite the space event in October: a total solar eclipse will pass the Four Corners area of Colorado, while the rest of the state will only see a partial eclipse. You had best get moving if you want to see the space event. Luckily, we’ve got all the details on how to get the best ‘seat.’
This October, a solar eclipse will be ready to produce an exquisite ring of fire surrounding the Earth’s shadow on the moon. Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado could be one of the greatest spots in the state to witness this magical occurrence. Read more below.
How to View the Upcoming Solar Eclipse?
Because of the fiery ring that will surround the moon during this eclipse, it has been dubbed an “annular” eclipse. In comparison, the sun is totally obscured during a total eclipse. The gap between the moon and the planet’s surface varies, which determines whether an eclipse will be total or annular. And that’s not all.
A total eclipse will traverse the United States from Texas to Maine in April of the following year, but it will be completely obscured in Colorado.
Why is the Mesa Verde National Park the best option?
Mesa Verde, in the Four Corners area of southwest Colorado, will be directly in the line of maximum eclipse on October 14.
Now for something that piques your interest. The indigenous Pueblo people lived at Mesa Verde for 700 years before inexplicably leaving their cliff houses in the late 1200s. The event will feature talks by park employees, NASA scientists, and other astronomical professionals, and preparations are already underway.
There will be a 70%-90% partial eclipse visible throughout much of Colorado. The sun will be blocked out by clouds 78.7 percent of the day in Denver, while it will be nearly 89 percent blocked out in Durango and Telluride. A visit to the Four Corners is the greatest option for getting the whole experience. The eclipse is happening on a Saturday morning, which is good timing.
According to timeanddate.com, the eclipse will begin at around 9:15 a.m. (exact times will vary by two or three minutes, based on your place in Colorado). At 10:30 a.m., the sun will be at its darkest, and just after noon, the eclipse will cease.
