Today, scientists can predict the next solar eclipse. That means people along the path of totality know what to expect. But it hasn’t always been that way. In the past, humans were often surprised by the darkness. 

    Imagine that you lived thousands of years ago. It’s the middle of the day. You are outside. All of a sudden, a dark shadow moves across the sun. 

    In just a few minutes, the world turns dark. Stars appear in the night-like sky. The wind slows down. Animals start their evening routines. Crickets chirp. Frogs croak. 

    You would be confused. You would be scared too. 

    Ancient people explained the phenomenon in different ways. Some cultures said it meant the gods were angry. 

    Others believed animals were attacking the sun. In ancient China, people banged pots and drums to scare away the sun-eating dragon.

    Nowadays scientists can predict the next solar eclipse decades ahead of time, which means people along the path of totality know what to expect. But it hasn’t always been that way, and in the past, humans were often caught completely off-guard by the darkness. 

    Imagine you lived thousands of years ago. It’s the middle of the day, and you are out working in your field when suddenly, a dark shadow moves across the sun. 

    Within a few minutes, the world turns dark. Stars appear in the night-like sky, and the wind slows down. Animals start their evening routines. Crickets chirp. Frogs croak. 

    Of course you would be confused and frightened! 

    To make sense of eclipses, ancient people had different ways of explaining the phenomenon. Some cultures thought an eclipse was a sign the gods were angry. 

    Others believed animals were attacking and gobbling up the sun. In ancient China, people would bang pots and drums to scare the sun-eating dragon away.

    Local leaders in Sulphur Springs have been preparing for eclipse visitors for more than two years. The town is being advertised as one of the best places to view the eclipse. During the event, people there will experience about 4 minutes and 21 seconds of darkness.

    “We’re like the 50-yard line for the eclipse,” says Butch Burney. He’s the president of the chamber of commerce. That’s a group that supports local businesses. “We’ve got people coming from as far as Europe and Australia.” 

    Schools will be closed on April 8. Churches have been asked to open up their parking lots to visitors. To serve the crowds, the town is bringing in extra cell phone towers and dozens of port-a-potties. 

    “We are doing everything we can to make sure that everybody has a good time,” Burney says. “We know this could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people.”

    Leaders in Sulphur Springs have spent more than two years getting ready for this eclipse. They’re advertising the town as one of the best places to view it. The darkness will last about 4 minutes and 21 seconds.

    “We’re like the 50-yard line for the eclipse,” says Butch Burney. He’s the president of the chamber of commerce. That’s a group that supports local businesses. “We’ve got people coming from as far as Europe and Australia.” 

    Schools will be closed on April 8. Churches have been asked to let visitors park in their parking lots. The town is bringing in extra cell phone towers. It’s getting dozens of port-a-potties. 

    “We are doing everything we can to make sure that everybody has a good time,” Burney says. “We know this could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people.”

    Local leaders in Sulphur Springs have been preparing for this eclipse for more than two years. The town is being advertised as one of the best places to view the eclipse. During the event, people there will experience about 4 minutes and 21 seconds of darkness.

    “We’re like the 50-yard line for the eclipse,” says Butch Burney. He’s the president of the chamber of commerce, a group that supports local businesses. “We’ve got people coming from as far as Europe and Australia.” 

    Schools will be closed on April 8, and churches have been asked to open up their parking lots to visitors. To serve the crowds, the town is bringing in extra cell phone towers and dozens of port-a-potties. 

    “We are doing everything we can to make sure that everybody has a good time,” Burney says. “We know this could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people.”