Gilmer County may be able to see more than three-fourths of the full magnitude of an upcoming total solar eclipse — but that’s only a prediction.
The eclipse will take place Monday, April 8.
Although Ellijay, East Ellijay and Cherry Log will not be within the path of totality, where the full effect of the moon covering the sun can be seen and felt, the predicted magnitude of sun coverage here could be up to 87 percent, according to Eclipse2024.org.
NASA’s partial eclipse estimate for Gilmer County is in the same range at 85 percent of the sun covered.
The upcoming eclipse’s path of totality will stretch diagonally from southern Texas to northern Maine, according to NASA. This path is expected to be much wider than in the 2017 solar eclipse, which was also partially visible here. That will allow more people to see the upcoming solar event, which will have a path of totality over North America measuring 108-122 miles wide, compared to 62-71 miles wide in 2017.
Here, the eclipse should start around 1:45 p.m. and reach its peak around 3:05 p.m.
Gilmer County Schools announced that students will be released two hours early on April 8. The school system cited caution in shortening the day because the eclipse will be happening at a time when an increased number of students, drivers and buses are on the roads.
NASA advises anyone viewing the eclipse by looking into the sky to wear protective eyewear or use a safe hand-held solar viewer designed for solar eclipse viewing.
This will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the lower 48 states until 2044, according to NASA.