My 13-Year-Old Daughter Greatly Enjoyed the 2024 Solar Eclipse, Here Is Why.

The total solar eclipse that occurred on Apr 8 this year has captured an enormous amount of attention in North America. Many major cities suffered from terrible traffic that day as crowds of observers flocked in for the last chance to observe a total eclipse in the next 20 years. My family was among such crowds and had spent five hours driving home after the event.

Still, I found the trip totally worth it and want to share with readers why.

First, I want to remind you of some basic facts about a solar eclipse.

A total solar eclipse is a relatively rare event. On average, a specific location on Earth will encounter a total solar eclipse only once every 375 years. In our modern world, taking a long journey is no longer a big deal; you can always travel to faraway places for a total solar eclipse. However, with whom you watch the event is also an important part of the whole experience. Whether you enjoy it with close friends and family or not makes a whole lot of difference. During your lifetime, it is uncommon to have the opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse within the proximity of your home more than once.

A total solar eclipse is a unique experience that cannot be compared to a partial one. It stands out in many ways, and one must locate within the path of totality to fully experience the awe it brings. Many people do not understand this point and are satisfied with, say, a 98% eclipse. They do not know how much they have missed.

My daughter greatly enjoyed the event, let me tell you why:

1 — We were with friends.

The path of totality for observing the eclipse was within a 3-hour driving distance from my home. As you would have guessed, many of my family’s friends could easily afford the time and trouble of taking such a short trip for the event. Two of my husband’s friends owned an RV and reserved a spot at a nice camping site; my family watched the event there with them and their friends. Their fancy RV greatly added to the fun, so my 13-year-old girl was not bored at all. My husband and I were too busy with our telescope and had mostly left it to our friends to entertain her. Being with your friends and family is always a crucial part of a big astronomical event, especially for families with young children.

2 — An obvious drop in temperature.

The weather was very nice that day. The solar eclipse happened around 1:30 pm local time. With the sun initially beaming down, I was sweating a little before the eclipse. This added to the drama I experienced during the whole course of totality. Observers could feel the drop in temperature as the sun was gradually blocked, meaning that the experience was not merely visual, but felt by your whole body. Typically one could expect a drop of 10⁰F during a total solar eclipse, but the exact amount will depend on humidity and other factors.

3 — A complete darkness — even stars were visible.

The eerie darkness is always what observes longed for during a total solar eclipse. To me, the experience of that darkness was super impressive. At peak, when the sun was totally blocked, I could clearly see the stars in the sky as if it were nighttime. I pointed out some of the brightest stars to my daughter and she was thrilled to find stars visible in the daytime. At that point, the sun was surrounded by a thin diamond ring, with silver rays beaming out. The color of that silver was so pure and impressive, with the eerie darkness covering the whole sky, I found the scene insanely beautiful.

4 — A complete silence, insects and birds stopped chirping.

We were at a camping site surrounded by a symphony of insects and birds chirping before the eclipse. As the eerie darkness descended, the woods turned more quiet. When the sun was entirely blocked and the day felt like night, my daughter noticed a complete silence and was utterly astonished by it. This was the most phenomenal feature of the whole course of the eclipse and it impressed her greatly. You could hardly think of another natural phenomenon that could bring you a comparable audible experience. My other friends who watched the event at major tourist attractions where great crowds gather or on major city streets did not get to experience how profoundly the creatures in nature responded to the eclipse.

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I find it such a blessing that my daughter is at the age that the memory of the total eclipse will stay with her for life. Have you watched the solar eclipse with your children? How was the weather at your location? Did you find it worth the trip? Do share your experience in the comments.