Watch WNKY News 40 Solar Eclipse Live Special at 1:50pm

According to a release by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the total eclipse will last about one to three minutes in Kentucky. Major cities along its path include Paducah, Morganfield and Henderson.

But you might be wondering – where should you go? And what is a solar eclipse anyway?

What is a Solar Eclipse?

KYTC references NASA, saying the total solar eclipse is possible when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. This blocks the sun’s light, and it only happens when all three are aligned, only making the corona of the sun visible.

Viewing Areas 

A map by Kentucky Tourism shows that the southern limit of the total solar eclipse will follow a narrow path, crossing into counties outside of our local area.

These include totality in Ballard, McCracken, Livingston, Crittenden, Union and Henderson counties along the Ohio River, while it will clip small portions of Carlisle, Graves, Webster and Daviess counties.

Even in Bowling Green, totality will be between 85-95%.

However, if you still want to see full totality, a road trip could lead you to the closest location. From Bowling Green, this might be two hours and 20 minutes if you choose to go to Paducah, while Henderson will take an hour and 35 minutes.

However, traffic could affect your travel time as people drive to viewing spots.

The transportation cabinet says the solar eclipse will sweep across 13 states, but its expected to bring 150,000 visitors to multiple western Kentucky counties.

This isn’t all – 1 million drivers are set to cross through the Commonwealth to reach the main path in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, transportation officials say.

And if you visit any of the areas of totality, you can help track the eclipse’s path using an app developed by WKU students called SunSketcher.

Events

There will be several events in viewing areas, and you can find full details here.

In Paducah, you can check out the X Marks the Spot event, which will host a watch party, shopping deals and eclipse themed dining options for the community and visitors.

Morganfield will also host a Solar Eclipse Festival at Morganfield City Park, where viewers can look forward to live music, crafts, food and astronomers and storytellers.

Times

In Paducah, the eclipse is expected to start at 12:42 p.m. Central Standard Time. Totality should last for two minutes, with the eclipse lasting until 3:18 p.m. according to the city’s website.

According to Eclipse2024.org, in Morganfield, the eclipse will start at 12:44 p.m. with totality starting around 2:02 p.m.

The same website says for Henderson, the eclipse will start at 12:45 p.m. with totality starting between 2:02 and 2:03 p.m.

Safety

Aside from travel plans, don’t forget to protect your vision.

In KYTC’s release, the governor is urging Kentuckians to prepare ahead to have eye protection while viewing the eclipse.

“The solar eclipse will be a memorable and fun event for many Kentucky families,” Gov. Andy Beshear says. “I encourage Kentuckians who intend to watch it to plan early to make this event safe for all. Choose your viewing location in advance, expect increased traffic and remember to take essentials, like protective eyewear and water.”

The release says protective glasses specifically made for viewing solar eclipses must be used for safe viewing.

Another great resource for solar eclipse information can be found at the TimeAndDate website