CLEVELAND — In less than a year, Northeast Ohio will be in the direct path of totality when the solar eclipse happens on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Destination Cleveland held a virtual tourism talk on Wednesday morning to discuss the 2024 total solar eclipse and Cleveland being a prime spot for viewing.
3News streamed the discussion in the media player at the top of our story as well as on our YouTube page.
The full tourism talk can be viewed below:
Officials spoke about how and why this event is a tourism driver for the region, an overview of the community planning efforts underway and the science behind a total solar eclipse.
During the discussion, the following spoke:
- Dr. Kelly Korreck, Program Manager 2023 & 2024 Solar Eclipses, Program Scientist, Heliophysics Division, NASA HQ Science Mission Directorate, NASA
- Brook Kaufman, CEO, Visit Rapid City
- Jen Valencic, Vice President, Destination Engagement, Destination Cleveland
- Jennifer Kramer, Sr. Director of Leisure, Local & Institutional Marketing, Destination Cleveland Where
"A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun," NASA explains. "The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk."
NASA has created an interactive map that shows the 2024 solar eclipse stretching from Texas to Maine -- and Cleveland will be a hot spot for viewing.
"The eclipse will last just under four minutes in Cleveland, which is one of the longest durations for major cities in the path," according to Destination Cleveland.
NASA says the eclipse will begin at 1:59 p.m. in Cleveland. Totality begins at 3:13 p.m. with maximum effect at 3:15 p.m. Totality ends around 3:17 p.m. before the partial eclipse finishes at 4:29 p.m.
3News' Ryan Haidet contributed to this report.
