OHIO — There will be a total solar eclipse visible in Northeast Ohio on April 8th, 2024. The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland held a countdown event this weekend that educated people on what a total eclipse is, as well as prepared them to keep their eyes protected.

What You Need To Know

  • Great Lakes Science Center hosted a countdown event to the total solar eclipse

  • The eclipse will be on April 8, 2024 

  • They explained to people the significance of a total solar eclipse

  • The goal was to ensure people understood the different ways they could view the eclipse without hurting their eyes 

Scott Vollmer, the Vice President of Education and Exhibits for Great Lakes Science Center, explained why this scientific spectacle is so important. 

“We are going to see a scientific phenomenon in the sky that is very, very rare. The next one that is going to happen is in 2444, so that’s 400 years from now. No one’s going to be around to see it,” he said.

Usually there are solar glasses used to view a solar eclipse, but there are other safe ways as well. Included with that is a camera obscura. Vollmer explained what that is and how guests at the science center were able to make their own.

“It’s a little black box with a piece of wax paper on the end of it and a pinhole, a tiny little hole poked through one end. If you set it up right, with enough light, you’ll be able to see what the camera is seeing portrayed on the piece of wax paper at the end of the pinhole camera,” he said.

Vollmer explained that this is not the first time that Cleveland has seen something like this.

“In 2017, we had a partial eclipse here in Northeast Ohio. That’s when the moon passed just over part of the sun,” he said.

Vollmer said the goal of the countdown to the total solar eclipse next year was to prepare people for how to see it safely. 

“I hope they take away a sense of amazement at just how unique a total solar eclipse is and a very good understanding of what the safe way of looking at the sun is,” he said.