Texas DOT Issues 7 Warnings About Rare Historic Solar Eclipse

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issued some stark warnings regarding the upcoming, historic cosmic event.

People across the globe will gather to watch the historic, total solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, the moon will pass over the sun in Texas from 1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. 

There are several critical points to consider, some of which may not have crossed your mind but are critical. TxDOT recently posted some advice and tips to prepare and avoid significant mistakes during the total solar eclipse event.

Follow these safety tips to ensure a safe viewing experience:

• Anticipate heavy traffic.
• Anticipate sudden stops by drivers.
• Stay vigilant for distracted pedestrians gazing at the sky.
• Keep your headlights on while driving, even in daylight.
• Refrain from wearing eclipse glasses while driving.
• Always focus on the road. 
• Only view the eclipse once safely parked away from the traffic flow.

WHAT IS A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Check out some interesting facts about the total solar eclipse.

• A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are aligned, or in syzygy.
  • Astronomy explains, "The Moon, directly between the Sun and Earth, casts a shadow on our planet. If you’re in the dark part of that shadow (the umbra), you’ll see a total eclipse. If you’re in the light part (the penumbra), you’ll see a partial eclipse."
• A solar eclipse only happens at the New Moon. but not all solar eclipses occur at every New Moon.
• Everyone in the continental U.S. will see at least a partial eclipse.
• Eclipse totalities are different lengths.
  • The reason the total phases of solar eclipses vary in time is that the Earth is not always at the same distance from the Sun, and the Moon is not always at the same distance from Earth.