On Monday, April 8, 2024, Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park will experience a total solar eclipse. A total eclipse occurs when the moon appears to totally obscure the sun. On average, this occurs somewhere on Earth only once every 1.5 years. The last total solar eclipse visible in Missouri was in 2017. The next one to pass over Missouri is predicted for 2045. However, only a tiny portion of southwest Missouri will be in totality. When Is It?For several hours, you can watch as the moon slowly covers the sun, leading up to a 4-minute window of “totality” starting locally around 1:59 CDT. During totality, the moon will completely cover the sun. Safe Eclipse ViewingIt is never safe to look directly at the sun without eclipse rated eye protection. The one exception is during totality, which lasts only a few minutes. At all other times, the light of the sun can cause permanent eye damage after only a few seconds of unprotected viewing. What to Expect in the ParkSte. Genevieve National Historical Park will be joining community partners to offer a viewing event hosted at the Ste. Genevieve County Community Center (21390 Highway 32 Ste. Genevieve, MO) from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, April 8. At the event, you'll be able to:
The Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center will be open throughout the day with a short pause in operations for staff and visitors alike to head outside and view the eclipse as it reaches totality. Since park rangers will be busy providing educational programming about the total eclipse and ensuring the safety of our visitors, house programs will not be offered that day. You can find out more about our program schedule by checking our web calendar. Frequently Asked Questions
Preparing for the EclipseJoin us and our partners as we prepare for the total eclipse! Programs about what an eclipse is, how to view it safely, and what will be available in Ste. Genevieve on April 8th will be offered throughout March and the first week of April. These programs will be hosted at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center, Felix Vallé State Historic Site, and the Ste. Genevieve County Library. What Is a Solar Eclipse?A total solar eclipse is a lineup of the sun, the moon, and Earth. The moon will be directly between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth. Totality (total eclipse) occurs when the moon covers the entirety of the sun except for the corona, or sun’s atmosphere. The longest total eclipse time occurs at the center line, where you experience the moon’s shadow’s full width. Outside the cone or umbra, viewers will experience a partial eclipse. What If I Miss It?The next opportunities to experience a total solar eclipse over the United States will be in 2044 (in North Dakota and Montana) and 2045 (as it crosses from California to Florida). Learn MoreFor more in-depth information about upcoming eclipses and other celestial events, visit the NASA Eclipses page.For local events and information, visit the Ste. Genevieve Tourism website. |
Last updated: April 6, 2024