With the solar eclipse on its way, News 5 asked viewers if they had any questions about the once-in-a-lifetime event.
Last week, News 5 meteorologist Katie McGraw hosted a Q&A livestream with Cleveland State University research astronomer Jay Reynolds and answered many of the questions you asked, as well as other great questions from the livestream viewers.
Watch the complete Q&A:
Here are the questions you asked, and answers to each of them:
Where does the sun go during the eclipse and will it come back?
Do I have to worry about traffic if my city doesn't have any events planned?
Yes. Again, I would plan for the worst-case scenario. In 2017, many people who live in rural areas rented their property to guests from out of town to view the eclipse. It may not be an organized event, but you should still plan for the population in your town to increase. Traffic will likely be a hassle for more people than not.
What is the weather going to be like that day?
Do I need a survival kit?
Many officials recommend being as prepared as possible, and it is better to be safe than sorry. If you are staying at home to watch the eclipse, you are encouraged to avoid unnecessary trips on Eclipse Day. Therefore, you want to make sure your tanks are full or charged, you have enough groceries at home, you have filled your prescriptions, your phones are charged, and you have enough food for your pets.
If you are planning on leaving home to watch the eclipse, you definitely want to make sure your fuel tanks are full because traffic could be a hassle. You should also bring non-perishable foods, plenty of water, lawn chairs, blankets, extra clothes, extra batteries or chargers, sunscreen, and a first aid kit. A first aid kit is always a good idea to have in your car.
How far north is the totality line? (Will people in Stark County be in totality or will they have to drive north to go dark?)
There are glasses made just to watch the eclipse safely. How do we know how to identify those glasses?
At what point or timeframe during the eclipse is it safe to watch with NASA-approved glasses?
It is ALWAYS safe to wear the approved safety glasses. It is more important to know when you can safely take them off. The only time you do not need your safety glasses is during totality. That is 3:13 to 3:17 p.m. in Cleveland. The times do vary slightly across NEO. Click here for an interactive map to see the exact start and end times where you will be.
Keep in mind that the entire eclipse lasts over two hours. It starts around 2 p.m., and we will be able to see the sun slowly getting eclipsed or covered by the moon. Following totality, the same thing will happen but in reverse, and we will gradually see more sun. The entire eclipse is over by 4:30 p.m.
If it's cloudy, when will they reschedule it for? (yes, a viewer did ask this)
It's going to be dark during the eclipse. Won't it be hard to see?
No! The only thing that will make it hard to see the eclipse is if it is too cloudy. During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. It blocks all the sunlight, but you will still see a glow surrounding the moon. This is the outmost atmosphere of the sun, known as the corona. The corona is usually obscured by the bright light of the sun. Check out the photo below to get an idea of what it will look like during totality.
How long will it last? And when does it start?
Is there a Biblical significance to the eclipse?
Thanks to our viewers for the great questions, and to Jay Reynolds for helping us answer them!
