Experiencing the Total Solar Eclipse with 577

The Total Solar Eclipse is almost here! While 577 will not be featuring special programming on Monday, April 8, we will be open normal hours from 9:00am to 5:00pm. For our local community, we invite you to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event with us on the lawn behind Virginia’s House for a lowkey viewing of the total solar eclipse.

Plan on bringing a blanket or folding chairs and spread out on the lawn around 1:56pm which is when projections have the partial eclipse beginning. NASA-approved eclipse-viewing glasses will be available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Limited quantities are available.

The estimated time Perrysburg and 577 will reach peak darkness is at 3:13pm with duration likely to be somewhere around 1 minute and 47 seconds. Projections have the partial eclipse ending at 4:26pm EDT.

We want everyone to be able to enjoy this event safely. Please note:
• Parking at 577 will be extremely limited with lots closing once we’ve reached capacity.
• If you are travelling from outside of Perrysburg, the Ohio Department of Transformation and local communities have warned us to expect traffic delays on the highways and local roads.
• We have also been advised we may experience disruptions in phone and internet service.

Questions? Give us a call at 874-4174.

Total Solar Eclipse Fun Facts, Local Info, & Resources

What is a total solar eclipse? A total eclipse is a lineup of the sun, the moon, and Earth. The moon will be directly between the sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth. Totality (total eclipse) occurs when the moon covers the entirety of the sun except for the corona, or the sun’s atmosphere. The longest total eclipse time occurs at the center line, where you experience the moon’s shadow’s full width.  

The total solar eclipse visits Ohio on April 8, 2024 beginning at 3:08pm EDT with the final exit of the Moon’s shadow from the state at 3:19pm EDT.

Did you know? A total solar eclipse is a rare and spectacular event!

• On average, one happens somewhere on the Earth only once every 1.5 years.
• Only 21 total solar eclipses have crossed the lower 48 states in the entire existence of the United States.
• The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806.
• The next total solar eclipse in Ohio will be in the year 2099.
• Through Ohio, the speed of the Moon’s shadow will accelerate from about 1995 miles per hour to about 2290 miles per hour!
• The path of the 2024 eclipse is about 9,200 miles long from beginning to end.
• In the U.S, from Texas to Maine, the path of the 2024 eclipse is about 2,142 miles long, representing only about 23 percent of its total length.

How to safely view a total solar eclipse:

• When experiencing a total solar eclipse, the only safe way to look directly at the sun during an eclipse is through special-purpose solar filters, like eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers.
• The only safe time to look at the sun without solar filters is during the 2 to 4 minutes of total eclipse.
• Please remember it is never safe to look at the sun without solar filters during any other phases of the eclipse, or if you are viewing a partial or annular eclipse.
• Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun.
• Read the complete safety guidelines from the American Astronomical Society at https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety

Information provided by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  Learn more at https://ema.ohio.gov/media-publications/ohio-total-solar-eclipse

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Need help making your plan for this special day? Check out these helpful resources and links below.

• “Total Eclipse of the ‘Burg” ~ Happening this Saturday, April 6, in Perrysburg. More info at https://visitperrysburg.com/event/total-eclipse-of-the-burg/
• The City of Perrysburg Info & FAQs: Check out this helpful info for local residents at https://bit.ly/4ajpKPH
• Destination Toledo: Make your plan, find local viewing locations, and explore featured events at https://www.visittoledo.org/eclipse/

Share your photos with us! Email hello@577foundation.org or tag us on social media.

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