Countdown to the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
March 15, 2024 | By Waterbury Roundabout * ECLIPSE DAY UPDATE | April 8
A few bits of local information to pass along:
Some businesses may close early today or for the time of totality. For example, KC’s Bagels closes at 11:30 a.m., Stowe Street Emporium closes at 1 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s factory and scoop shop is closed between 3 and 4 p.m., and likely others, too. Remember, businesses may want to give their workers a chance to enjoy the eclipse.
Roads to and around Waterbury are expected to be some of the busiest in Vermont —Interstate 89, Route 100, Route 2—be prepared for slow travels, especially after the eclipse.
ECLIPSE GLASSES RETURN/RECYCLING - That’s a thing. The Waterbury Public Library will collect glasses after the eclipse, pass that on!
And send us your photos (see below)
Read our final (?) update before Monday, April 8, Eclipse Day HERE.
Share your photos and stories of your eclipse adventures
Know that we would love to share your photos and eclipse stories. We have a form for that here or email us at WaterburyRoundabout@gmail.com.
Illustration by Maya Whitehair
NEW On April 6: Water is cold, watch the eclipse from land
The National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Vermont Emergency Management and other state and local first response agencies issued a warning on Friday reminding eclipse viewers to avoid venturing onto bodies of water this weekend and Monday as the risk of hypothermia in the event of an accident is high.
Despite warmer temperatures on the way, rivers, ponds and lakes remain dangerously cold (in the 30s).
Immersion in cold water can become life-threatening very quickly, officials warn. Should a boat, canoe, kayak, etc. capsize in cold water, hypothermia can occur in just a matter of minutes. Cold water causes extremities to become numb, weakens the ability of muscles to work effectively, and eventually leads to hypothermia. Vermont has had several springtime fatalities in cold water in recent years.
Those who choose to boat, canoe, or kayak in the early season, are advised to wear protective gear to guard against the cold water in the event of an accident.
Reminder: Safe viewing of the eclipse only needs an open space —preferably on land—with a good view of the southwest sky.
A note on public toilets
Town parks - Anderson, Rusty Parker, Ice Center, Hope Davey - will have porta-potties available for the public to use. No public bathrooms at Dac Rowe, however. Waterbury municipal offices will be open including restrooms. Photo by Gordon Miller
APRIL 2 UPDATE:
Interactive Waterbury town map
Click the map below to see parking and viewing spots, public toilet locations in Waterbury.
In addition, a physical map is at the Municipal Offices (28 N. Main Street) where people can stop by to mark where they have come from to see the eclipse in Waterbury. The Waterbury Municipal Offices will be open Monday, April 8, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Restrooms will be open to the public there.) FYI: Town Clerk services will be limited on Monday. Call ahead 802-244-8447.
Looking for local events?
Find a list on the Waterbury Town Eclipse Webpage—> Click Here
The Total Solar Eclipse happens Monday, April 8
On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross parts of North America including part of Vermont. The astronomical event is created by the moon passing directly between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun and darkening the sky during the daytime.
The eclipse will start in the South Pacific Ocean and will cross North America from Mexico to the United States and into eastern Canada.
According to the state of Vermont’s official website with eclipse details, at 2:14 p.m. on April 8, a partial solar eclipse will begin. By 3:26 p.m., a total eclipse of the sun will darken the daytime sky, lasting for about 3 minutes. As the moon moves past the sun, the sky will slowly brighten with the eclipse ending at 4:37 p.m.
Everyone planning to view the eclipse should have eclipse glasses to prevent damage to their eyes. The state has provided a supply of glasses to the town for local residents to pick up for free at the town office and the Waterbury Public Library. (Recycle your used glasses at the library after the eclipse, too.) Brookside Primary School has received a supply for all students as well.
Several key websites to check for information:
The State of Vermont has an official webpage with tips on viewing safety, travel alerts, and viewing or lodging options at vermont.gov/eclipse.
Vermont Emergency Management has set up an alert system for the eclipse. Text VTECLIPSE to 888777 to sign up for text alerts regarding weather, traffic, and other notable information on the weekend and day of the eclipse.
The Town of Waterbury has local page of information on its website (link at the top of the homepage on WaterburyVt.com)
Below Waterbury Roundabout has begun to collect a list of various news briefs and announcements related to the eclipse. Check back here for updates until the big event. Have eclipse-related local news to share? Send it to us at waterburyroundabout@gmail.com.
A Vermont Astronomical Society presentation drew a crowd recently. Photo by Sandy Yusen
UPDATE POSTED MARCH 29:
Also news from Duxbury on closing Camel’s Hump Road to all but local traffic for most of April 7 and 8.
Posted March 26: Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team cautions the public not to hike high or remote trails on April 8
If you choose to hike despite our advice, it is imperative that you plan your own rescue.
Do not expect a helicopter to come and rescue you. It will not happen. This is not TV.
Think “safety” before you think “eclipse.”
Read the full letter from Waterbury Backcountry Rescue here.
UPDATE MARCH 21
Community meeting reviews Waterbury’s eclipse preparations
With the total solar eclipse less than three weeks away, Waterbury town government and business leaders met on March 20 to go over preparations that are underway with a goal of having things “operate as close to usual as possible” on April 8. Read that report by Sandy Yusen here.
Harwood schools to be closed April 8
Harwood Unified Union School District Superintendent Mike Leichliter sent a communication to families and staff on Thursday, March 21, that all district schools will be closed on Monday, April 8, due to the expected traffic for the eclipse. The district previously had planned on an early dismissal that day. His message says:
“Vermont is predicting anywhere from 30,000-200,000 additional people will be entering our state on this day.
Local emergency officials have recommended to school districts in the Champlain Valley and Franklin County to close schools because of the significant influx of people, road closures, and strain on emergency services. These recommendations are now coming to the superintendents in Barre, Harwood, Washington Central, and Montpelier-Roxbury as well.
In light of these factors, Barre, Harwood, Washington Central, and Montpelier-Roxbury will all be closed on April 8, 2024. The last day of school will be communicated at a later date once the chance of inclement weather has passed.”
March 25: Vermont Astronomical Society presentation
Free eclipse-viewing glasses are available at the Waterbury Town Offices and the Waterbury Public Library. Illustration by Maya Whitehair
Waterbury Public Library has invited the Vermont Astronomical Society to give a presentation on “How to Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse” on Monday, March 25.
Society president Jack St. Louis will cover information on the sun, dates and times of the eclipse, why eclipses happen, where to look, what to expect, and tips on safe viewing and more.
Attendees will receive eclipse glasses to take home. Eclipse glasses are solar viewing glasses with specialized lenses that block harmful radiation from penetrating your eyes. Regular sunglasses, no matter the darkness or thickness, are unsafe to use to look at the sun. Improperly looking at the sun during an eclipse can harm vision or even cause blindness. Eclipse glasses are available for free at the town offices and the library’s front desk. Glasses have also been provided to Brookside Primary School for all students.
The free program starts at 6 p.m. at the library.
EYE SAFETY INFORMATION
From NASA: When watching a partial or annular solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. NASA does not approve any particular brand of solar viewers.
Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device. Always supervise children using solar viewers.
Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
More online from the University of Vermont Medical Center and from the American Astronomical Society including a downloadable PDF.
Kids writing contest calls for two-sentence tales ‘in the sky’
File photo by Gordon Miller
For its second annual Two-Sentence Writing Contest, the Waterbury-based Children’s Literacy Foundation is challenging Vermont and New Hampshire kids with the prompt to write a story “that takes place in the sky.”
Organizers say it’s loosely tied to the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse and the contest draws inspiration from stories and legends ancient civilizations invented to explain sky phenomena, CLiF Project Specialist Mary Edith Leichliter.
Open to all Vermont and New Hampshire children aged 12 and under, the contest is free to enter. Prizes will be awarded to top submissions in each of four age categories: Kindergarten and younger; grades 1-2; grades 3-4; grades 5-6.
Winners will receive five books from CLiF, curated to their age and interests.
Additional details about the contest and a downloadable entry template can be found on CLiF’s website. Entries must be received by email to communications@clifonline.org or postal mail to: CLiF Writing Contest, 3579 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. The deadline for entries to be received is March 29. Winners will be announced in early April.
April 6: Pinhole Projector Workshop
Waterbury Recreation will host a workshop to learn to make a pinhole projector to safely view the total solar eclipse taking place on April 8. Participants will make, learn to use, and take home their pinhole projector.
Class is recommended for ages 8 and up, no child younger than 5 years old. Class will be held on Saturday, April 6, at 2 p.m. Cost: $10
Location: Recreation Building, 27 Butler Street, Waterbury
Some state parks will be welcoming eclipse-watchers
April 8 is earlier than Vermont State Parks opening for the season.
The state parks system has an eclipse webpage with a list of parks that will be welcoming eclipse viewers. The Waterbury Center State Park Day Use Area is on that list along with Bomoseen, Boulder Beach, Branbury, Crystal Lake, DAR, Elmore, Emerald Lake, Mt. Philo, Grand Isle, Knight Point, Lake Shaftsbury, Lake St. Catherine, Little River, Niquette Bay and Silver Lake state parks. This list may change by April 8 depending on park conditions.
All parks on the list will have open gates, parking access and port-a-lets available. Facilities including running water will not be available.
Some tips for visiting a state park for the eclipse:
Be prepared for inclement weather and dress accordingly. Weather and temperatures in early April can be unpredictable. The temperature may drop significantly during the event.
Bring plenty of water – drinking water will not be available at the parks.
Stay off trails and only park vehicles in designated parking areas. The ground will be very wet/saturated in many locations. Mud season rules will be in place.
Follow park rules while visiting for the eclipse to ensure an enjoyable experience for all.
Dogs must be kept leashed and under control.
Bring a first-aid kit in case of emergency.
Bring a flashlight.
Remember not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse. Come prepared with eclipse glasses for safe viewing.
Travel on some local roadways may be difficult due to spring/mud season conditions. Please plan accordingly. Plan ahead by reviewing current road conditions on New England 511.
If visiting a location near a water body, be aware that ice conditions on lakes and ponds may not be safe for you to walk on. Learn more about ice safety.
Before leaving home, tell someone where you will be viewing the eclipse.
Vermont State Parks also have commemorative eclipse t-shirts and hats. See more information on those here.
More eclipse coverage:
Where will you be for the eclipse on Monday? — Waterbury Roundabout
The Outside Story shared a regional take on the eclipse with helpful links.
UVM eclipse experts share their knowledge, excitement ahead of April 8 — Waterbury Roundabout
Waterbury preps for once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse — Waterbury Roundabout
Leaders alerted to what April 2024’s total solar eclipse might bring — Waterbury Roundabout