When day turns to night: the magic of a solar eclipse

"Many people describe a total solar eclipse as the most spectacular natural event they have ever witnessed."

We caught up with Eclipse Expert, Dave Clark, to find out all about solar eclipses, how you can view them safely, and much more…

Dave: A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun and the Moon blocks the Sun for a viewer on Earth. Sometimes, the Moon only partially blocks the Sun, resulting in a partial solar eclipse. But occasionally, the Moon lines up perfectly to completely obscure the Sun, which results in “totality.” Totality is the bucket list eclipse experience that everyone should try to experience at least once.

Dave: NationalEclipse.com was launched in 2015 to provide accurate and reliable information for the historic 2017 total solar eclipse in the U.S. Since then, we’ve grown to become one of the leading online resources about solar eclipses. For the 2024 total solar eclipse that occurred in North America, NationalEclipse.com was one of the most widely used websites, receiving millions of visitors in the weeks and months leading up to the eclipse. Featuring comprehensive information on eclipses of all types, people from all over the world use NationalEclipse.com to learn more about eclipses and research where and how to view them. Our mission from the beginning has been simple: To help people understand, appreciate, and experience the solar eclipse phenomenon, to provide accurate and reliable information about solar eclipse viewing safety, and to offer advice and guidance to help people plan for and view solar eclipses.

Dave: One of the main advantages of viewing an eclipse from a ship is that it can more easily position itself under clear skies on eclipse day. This is more difficult to accomplish on land, where you might need to drive (or even fly!) hundreds of miles away from your original location if clouds are forecast. On an eclipse cruise, you can relax and let the crew monitor the weather, knowing that they’ll do everything they can to get you to clear skies if necessary.

Dave: A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth about once every 18 months, on average. We’re lucky that over the next three years there will be three total solar eclipses occurring in some very interesting and accessible places across the planet. In 2026, a total eclipse will cross over Iceland and Spain.

Map provided by https://nationaleclipse.com/

In 2027, totality will occur in Spain, Morocco, and Egypt.

Map provided by https://nationaleclipse.com/

And in 2028, a total solar eclipse will cross through Australia and New Zealand.

Map provided by https://nationaleclipse.com/

All of these locations are already popular travel destinations, and each of the eclipse paths cross over bodies of water frequented by cruise ships.

Dave: Many people who have seen a total solar eclipse have described it as the most spectacular natural event they have ever witnessed. The experience is so otherworldly that it’s difficult to put into words. It’s one of those few things in life that you really just have to experience to understand. Of course, the brief period of totality, when the Sun is 100 percent blocked by the Moon, is the best part of the total eclipse experience. This is when day turns to night (or, more accurately, twilight) and the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, emerges around the dark disk of the Moon. One of the most incredible aspects of a total solar eclipse is how the world around you changes in the moments before totality. The day takes on a bizarre character that feels distinctly unnatural. And then, all of a sudden, there’s an alien planet hovering in the sky where the Sun used to be. The total solar eclipse experience is so overwhelming that, after experiencing it for the first time, many people vow to do whatever it takes to see another one.

Dave: When it comes to total solar eclipses, planning is key. First, you have to make sure that you’ll be located inside the narrow path of totality, where the eclipse will be total. You also need to equip yourself with the proper viewing equipment – which means certified safe eclipse glasses or viewers. You also have to position yourself in an area with a relatively decent history of clear skies for the date on which the eclipse will occur. And finally, you have to monitor short-term weather forecasts in the days leading up to the eclipse and, if necessary, be prepared to move to a new location at the last moment if you have to. The nice thing about viewing a total solar eclipse on an eclipse cruise is that many of these items are taken care of for you! In that case, just make sure you know the precise time that totality will occur and that you’re settled in and ready when the big moment arrives. It’s a very short viewing window and there are no do-overs!

Dave: Certified safe eclipse glasses or viewers must always be used to view a solar eclipse. The small amount of light emitted during even a 99.9 percent partial eclipse is still dangerous to look at with unprotected eyes. The only time it's safe to look at a total eclipse without proper eye protection is during the brief period of "totality" when the Sun is 100 percent blocked by the Moon. At all other times, proper eye protection must be used. In addition, attempting to view an eclipse using binoculars, telescopes, cameras, or other devices that don't have their own special front-mounted solar filters is extremely hazardous. The NationalEclipse.com Store has a wide variety of certified safe eclipse glasses and viewers.