The City of Morenci is gearing up for a rare celestial event—a partial solar eclipse, with 99.5% totality, set to occur on April 8. The eclipse will span approximately 2.5 hours, beginning around 1:55 p.m. and ending at 4:26 p.m., with the peak coverage anticipated at 3:12 p.m. In response, Morenci Area Schools will release students at noon on April 8, enabling students and families to witness the phenomenon firsthand, either locally or by traveling to an area with full totality.
For those opting to stay local, Lake Hudson Recreation Area is organizing a viewing party for the near-total eclipse. Visit Lenawee will provide complimentary eclipse glasses to all attendees in the beach parking lot. Access to the state park requires a Recreation Passport, and further details can be found here.
In preparation for the event, Stair District Library recently hosted Meteorologist Ross Ellet on March 21, who discussed the upcoming eclipse and encouraged residents to consider making the short journey to a totality zone. A mere 27-mile drive to Napoleon, Ohio, offers spectators one minute and 41 seconds of totality. Extending the journey an additional ten miles south to Holgate, Ohio, provides nearly another minute of totality, totaling two minutes and 34 seconds. For those seeking the ultimate experience, the center path of the total eclipse lies approximately 95 miles south of Morenci, near Botkins, Ohio, with an impressive three minutes and 57 seconds of totality.
Meteorologist Ross Ellet emphasized that during the period of totality, observers can safely remove their solar glasses to fully take in the eclipse experience. In Morenci and other locations outside of totality, glasses must remain on while looking at the sun. He advised residents to depart early and anticipate potential traffic delays on their return home.
To ensure safe viewing, free solar glasses are being distributed to all students at Morenci Area Schools, funded through a grant received by Stair District Library. Glasses will also be available at Stair District Library through April 6. The library will be closed on April 8. For those interested in understanding the variance between totality and 99.5%, detailed instructions for an online simulator can be accessed via the Stair District Library website.