Join Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) to witness the rare solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.
PRCS facilities and parks are celebrating this historic day across the county with free viewing events for all ages. All PRCS event sites will include free eclipse safety glasses (while supplies last).
PRCS Monday, April 8 Solar Eclipse Event Locations:
- Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Banshee Reeks Eclipse Party, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Bluemont Community Center, Cosmic Celebration, 2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
- Dulles South Recreation and Community Center, Solar Eclipse Watch Party, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center, Solar Eclipse for All Event, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, Solar Eclipse Festival, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Loudoun Valley Community Center, Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Lovettsville Community Park, Eclipse Watch Party, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Lucketts Community Center, Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Senior Center of Leesburg (Adults 55+), Solar Eclipse Festival, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The spectacular total solar eclipse of the sun will be visible on a narrow path that stretches diagonally from Texas toward New York. Loudoun County is along the path that will have 89% obscurity.
Visit PRCS Connect for a full list of events and additional information on viewing parties and PRCS Solar Eclipse-related programs. This rare occurrence won’t be visible from the continental United States for another 20 years!
What to expect?
Viewers will see the moon begin to eclipse the sun at 2:15 p.m. with it covering the sun around 3:20 p.m. The solar eclipse coverage will last about four minutes, then the Sun will slowly be uncovered. Use your solar eclipse safety glasses during the partial phases of the eclipse, and you'll see sunspots — dark areas of magnetic activity — on the surface, close to its equator.
When only a sliver of sunlight remains visible during the eclipse, your surroundings will begin to darken, as if the Sun were setting in the middle of the day. Temperatures will drop and birds will go to roost, thinking that night is coming. Finally, the Sun will be almost totally covered, and the beautiful solar atmosphere (the corona) will become visible to some viewers.
How often does a total solar eclipse occur?
A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth approximately once every 18 months on average, but each is visible only in a limited area. During a total solar eclipse, the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible.
For more information on other exciting PRCS events, visit loudoun.gov/prcsevents.
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