(WWJ) In most of the Metro Detroit area, we'll get about a 99% or better view of today's solar eclipse.
The 2024 solar eclipse is Monday, April 8. Its path of totality will cross the U.S. from approximately 2:27 p.m. to 3:35 p.m. EST.
According to an interactive map provided by NASA, in the City of Detroit the eclipse begins at 1:58 p.m. and ends at 4:27 p.m., with 99.2% maximum coverage at 3:14 p.m.
In the City of Monroe the eclipse begins at 1:57 p.m. and ends at 4:27 p.m., with 99.9% maximum coverage at 3:13 p.m. — just a smidge better than Detroit.
The best view in Southeast Michigan, of course, will be in south of Monroe in Luna Pier, which is in the path of totality. In Luna Pier, the eclipse begins at 1:57 p.m. and ends at 4:26 p.m., with the total eclipse in view at 3:13 p.m., for about 19 seconds.
Luna Pier is in fact the only place in Michigan located within the path of totality.
You won't need a telescope to see the eclipse. Just walk outside during the stated time, don your eclipse glasses, and look up!
With so many people out and about on Monday excited to get a look, Michigan State Police are warning people to be careful on the roads.
MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw said while it's important to wear your eclipse glasses while outside the car — take them off when behind the wheel.
"It's pretty obvious," Shaw said. "They even made a song about it; not to wear your sunglasses at night. Don't wear your eclipse glasses while driving. If you have the right ones, you shouldn't be able to see a thing through them unless you're looking actually at the eclipse."
Shaw's more important tip: Don't park on the side of the road or stop on the road to watch the eclipse. He also says turn your headlights, put your phone down, and don't take photos while driving.
"Driving with your phone in your hand and taking pictures if illegal no matter what's going on out there, be it the eclipse or just normal driving back and forth to work," he said. "So, make sure that you keep that cell phone put away."
Meanwhile, medical experts are reminding the public not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse — or ever — without proper eyewear. Here's why.
How do you know if you have the right kind of eclipse glasses, and if they're legit? Here's what to look for. Some places known to have then in stock are Meijer and some Speedway locations.
So, why is this such a big deal? Carnegie Observatories Director John Mulchaey says we won't be seeing this again anytime soon.
"In any particular place on Earth, you'll only get a total solar eclipse about once every 375 years," Mulchaey said. "And so, in fact, it is a big deal that it's so close."
"And in fact," he said, it is true Detroit will not be in the total solar eclipse until the year 2099. That's the next one. So if you're very young, you might make it to that one... But I probably won't be here."
While the sky won't be completely clear in Metro Detroit, AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore said the weather should be favorable for viewing.
"I do that that we will take enough dry again that we will get opportunities to see the eclipse here this afternoon, after the clouds start breaking up," DeVore said, speaking live on WWJ Monday morning. "It's not gonna be necessarily the clearest of views — we may have some clouds still hanging around a bit —but at least it's gonna get warm, up to near 70."