A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that happens when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on our planet and temporarily blocking the Sun’s light. This celestial alignment can create a dramatic viewing experience, ranging from a slight dimming of the daylight to a moment of total darkness. The rarity of these phenomena makes each one a notable occasion for those living within the path of the Moon’s shadow.
The Last Major Partial Eclipse
The most recent major solar event to cross the region before the total eclipse was the Great American Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017. While the path of totality tracked across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina, it bypassed Oklahoma to the north. Consequently, residents experienced a deep partial eclipse instead of a moment of full darkness.
Most of the state witnessed the Moon obscuring 80% or more of the Sun’s disk at the eclipse’s peak. Northern Oklahoma, including areas like the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, saw obscuration percentages reaching approximately 90%. Although impressive, this level of coverage is fundamentally different from totality, as the remaining sliver of the Sun still emits a significant amount of light.
The partial eclipse affected the environment, with weather stations recording slight temperature drops as the solar radiation decreased. Even with high obscuration, special eye protection remained necessary throughout the entire event, since the Sun’s bright surface was never fully covered. This 2017 event served as a prelude, reminding Oklahomans of the power of solar alignments.
The Recent Total Solar Eclipse
The most recent total solar eclipse to impact Oklahoma occurred on April 8, 2024, an event that drew large crowds to the state’s southeastern corner. This was a substantially more significant astronomical occurrence than the 2017 partial view, as a narrow band of the state fell within the Moon’s deepest shadow, known as the path of totality. This path, averaging about 115 miles wide, briefly skimmed across Oklahoma, covering a distance of only about 31 miles along its centerline.
The totality phase began in the state around 1:45 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT). Specific locations in southeastern Oklahoma, such as the areas near Broken Bow, Talihina, and Hochatown, were positioned for the best views. The duration of totality varied across the path, but observers close to the centerline near towns like Idabel experienced over four minutes of complete solar coverage.
During the minutes of totality, the sky darkened dramatically, resembling deep twilight, allowing the Sun’s faint outer atmosphere, the corona, to become visible to the unaided eye. This specific event was particularly noteworthy because the path of totality was so brief within Oklahoma, passing quickly from the Texas border to the Arkansas border. For those outside this narrow corridor, including residents of Oklahoma City, the event was still visible but only as a substantial partial eclipse.
When Will Oklahoma See the Next Total Eclipse?
Total solar eclipses are rare phenomena for any single geographic location due to the precise alignment required between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. After the 2024 event, Oklahoma will have to wait two decades before the next opportunity to witness totality within its borders. The next total solar eclipse whose path is projected to cross a significant portion of the state will happen on August 12, 2045.
That future path is expected to be more expansive, cutting across the state and including the area of Oklahoma City and parts of the northeastern region. While partial solar eclipses will occur more frequently, the experience of totality remains a once-in-a-generation spectacle for most Oklahomans.