'Come for the sun, stay for the stars' From the cover
The big picture
See the solar eclipse
Path of totality
city’s Airbnbs have been reserved for months. School districts across Central Texas—including Liberty Hill, Florence and Jarrell ISDs—have canceled classes on April 8 to keep parents and students o the roads during the event. “The county is worried that there is going to be gridlock on the roads, and we’re going to have trouble running our buses and having parent pickup during that time,” Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent Steven Snell said in May, when the district announced its 2023-24 calendar. “The county expects 400,000 [people] to drive through Liberty Hill on the way to the eclipse.” While viewing events are planned across the county, o cials are encouraging spectators, especially those who reside in the area, to watch the eclipse from home and stay o the roads. “Just stay home and plan things with your family and neighbors,” Amsler said.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to travel to the Texas Hill Country to watch the moon completely block the face of the sun on April 8, said Dawn Davies, the Night Sky program coordinator at Hill Country Alliance. The rarity of the event has garnered a lot of interest both from tourists and area residents. Total solar eclipses, on average, are visible somewhere on Earth approximately every 18 months. However, Davies said a total solar eclipse recurring in the same place happens every 350-400 years or so. “We are not going to see an eclipse pass through the Hill Country like this for generations upon generations,” Davies said. O cials have noticed an increase in bookings for campsites, hotels and Airbnbs. Katie Amsler, Liberty Hill’s director of community engagement and communication, said the city’s only lodging place, River Ranch Inn, is fully booked, and the
TOTAL ECLIPSE MAP
DALLAS
WACO
LEANDER
FREDERICKSBURG
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
• Get to viewing location early Safe viewing
• Limit travel on major roadways • Do not look at the partial eclipse phase with bare eyes, cameras or unsafe ilters, such as sunglasses
SOURCES: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, TEXAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
What viewers should know
When to watch Times for viewing and glasses are listed for Williamson County but vary by location.
The solar eclipse can be seen in Williamson County from 12:18 p.m.-2:58 p.m., with the duration of totality lasting 3 minutes and 6 seconds. Experts are recommending spectators view the solar eclipse with ISO Certi ed eclipse glasses or cards until maximum coverage of the sun—or totality—is reached, when it is then safe to observe without protective wear. Nonpro t organization Friends of River Ranch County Park will hold an eclipse viewing event at the Liberty Hill park. Other events include a 5K run and viewing party in Leander.
Partial eclipse begins: 12:18:08 P.M. (need glasses)
Full eclipse begins: 1:36:21 P.M. (no glasses)
Full eclipse ends:
Partial eclipse ends: 2:58:52 P.M. (need glasses)
Maximum eclipse: 1:37:54 P.M. (no glasses)
1:39:27 P.M. (need glasses)
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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