Get ready for the celestial event of the year! Discover when and where to watch the 2023 solar eclipse in Cortez, Colorado. Our guide provides expert tips and prime viewing spots.
Witness the 2023 Solar Eclipse in Cortez, Colorado
Solar eclipses are more than just celestial phenomena; they are cosmic events that bridge the gap between science and wonder.
The solar eclipse of 1919 provided empirical evidence for Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Einstein had hypothesized that gravity is a warping of time & space and a large enough object could bend light. The bending of the light around the Sun on May 29, 1919 made some stars appear in the wrong place - proving Einstein’s hypothesis.
Throughout history and cultures, eclipses have been both celebrated and feared. Some cultures tell stories of a great beast swallowing the Sun (for the Cherokee the beast is a frog, in China the beast is a dragon), other cultures, such as the Diné, view the eclipse as a death and rebirth of the Sun. For many people, solar eclipses are still seen as a time of renewal and something to be observed with reference and awe.
Today, solar eclipses are celebrated for their scientific importance and natural wonder. They continue to provide opportunities for astronomers to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, and make discoveries about our star's behavior.
Solar eclipses have both fascinated and enlightened humanity throughout history and across cultures, reminding us that the universe's secrets are waiting to be unveiled.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
History of Eclipses
Indigenous Perspective
Solar Eclipse 2017
What is a Solar Eclipse?
Types of Solar Eclipses
Safety first!
The Solar Eclipse in Cortez
When is the Solar Eclipse
Where to Watch the Solar Eclipse
Pre-Eclipse Preparations
Post-Eclipse Exploration
Eclipses: Historic Wonders, Celestial Marvels
Chasing Shadows in the Desert: A Brief History of Eclipses in the American Southwest
Eclipses in History: The Indigenous Perspective
Southwest Colorado is the ancestral home of several indigenous tribes including the Ancient Puebloans, the Diné, and the Ute Mountain Ute.
It is hard to know what the early Puebloan people, who built and once inhabited the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, believed about solar eclipses. We do know they studied the sun meticulously, however. In Mesa Verde National Park, at the Sun Temple, there is a stone basin with three small indentations believed to track the movement of the sun and the change of seasons. Several Puebloan dwellings in the Montezuma area are built in correspondence to the rising or setting of the sun. At Chaco Canyon, in New Mexico, there is a petroglyph believed to represent an eclipse on July 11, 1097. After 1100, the Puebloan people built 10 Great Houses with dramatic views of the sunrise or sunset based on the solstices.
The Diné people, who have continued to live in the southwest Colorado area today, see solar eclipses as a time of great reverence and personal reflection. Many Diné people do not eat, drink or go outside during a solar eclipse. They believe the solar eclipse represents the death - and subsequent rebirth - of the sun. Traditional Diné teachings say that the time of a solar eclipse is not a time meant for human beings - but a time for the universe, and thus remain indoors refraining from human needs & pleasures.
Cortez’s Modern Eclipse: Remembering the Solar Eclipse of 2017
In 2017 Cortez, Colorado was in the path of a partial solar eclipse during an event that became known as the Great American Eclipse. In Cortez the eclipse was at 80 percent totality, creating a stunning view for everyone in the area.
The eclipse was on Monday, August 21st, so most of the area’s children were already back in school. Teachers and administrators across the southwest Colorado area made a big deal of the eclipse, classes created eclipse projectors or ordered eclipse glasses for all the staff and students. (Many indigenous students were kept home from school that day, and virtually no teaching - at least known that wasn’t solar related - got done that day!)
I happened to be a student-teaching in Mancos, so I went outside with the entire school district to watch the celestial spectacle. I will always remember swapping the eclipse projectors with our group of students, surrounded by hundreds of other people: staff, students, parents, siblings…all together on the football field together to catch a glimpse of the shadows caused by our Sun & Moon!
Celestial Marvels: What is a Solar Eclipse?
Eclipses are a cosmic alight of the earth, Moon and Sun. A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow over the Sun and making it either disappear, or as if a chunk was taken out of the Sun.
When the Moon only blocks a part of the Sun’s light the eclipse is referred to as a partial eclipse. The solar eclipse in Cortez on October 14, 2023 is an annular solar eclipse, so the Moon will not block the Sun out completely. At the height of the eclipse, the Sun will appear to turn into a ring of fire.
Types of Solar Eclipses
There are three types of solar eclipses: total, partial, and annular. The solar eclipse on October 14 in Cortez, Colorado is an annular solar eclipse.
Total Solar Eclipse
Total solar eclipses, where the Moon completely blocks the view of the Sun, occur, on average, every 18 months globally. In 2017 Cortez saw a partial solar eclipse as part of the total solar eclipse that could be seen in other parts of the world.
Partial Solar Eclipse
Partial solar eclipses, where the Moon only partially blocks the Sun, happen relatively often and can be seen from different parts of the world multiple times every year. There are actually 2 to 5 solar eclipses, globally, every year .
Annular Solar Eclipse
Annular solar eclipses, sometimes called “ring of fire” eclipses, happen when the Moon positions itself between the earth & the Sun but does not cover the Sun completely like in a total solar eclipse. During an annular eclipse, the Moon’s apparent diameter appears less than the Sun's, making the Sun appear like a ring of fire around the Moon. Annular solar eclipses happen every 1 to 2 years.
The next total solar eclipse will be on April 8, 2024, however those in the United States will only be able to see a partial eclipse. The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the USA is not until Aug 23, 2044.
When and Where to Watch the Solar Eclipse in Cortez
Safety First: How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely
It's essential to protect your eyes while watching the solar eclipse. Use certified solar eclipse glasses to shield your eyes from the Sun's harmful rays. These glasses are widely available and are a must-have for safe viewing. Come early to the Cortez Municipal Airport for the Fly-In to get your Cortez-certified pair!
Because the Moon never completely blocks the Sun, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized solar viewing glasses. On a normal Sunny day, if you look directly at the Sun, you will likely feel pain, causing you to look away. On an annular solar eclipse, however, the Sun’s light is muted and it can trick your eyes & brain into thinking you are able to stare for a long time. Staring at the Sun for a prolonged time - even when it appears less bright can burn your retinas, causing permanent damage to your eyes.
Sunglasses are NOT eclipse glasses. Do NOT use your regular sunglasses to look at the annular solar eclipse. Do not even look through a camera to capture the solar eclipse, in some cases a camera, binoculars or telescopes can act as a magnifying glass, causing even greater damage to your eyes. You can learn more about safe solar eclipse viewing and how to make your own eclipse projector by clicking this link.
Mark Your Calendar: Solar Eclipse, October 14 in Cortez
On October 14, 2023, Cortez, Colorado, will experience an annular solar eclipse that promises to be a captivating celestial event. The eclipse will begin at 9:11 AM local time, enter full eclipse at 10:31 AM, and reach its maximum around 10:33 AM. Cortez is right on the path to see near the annular eclipse, it will be a truly stunning sight.
Best Places to View the Solar Eclipse in Cortez
Cortez offers numerous prime viewing locations for the 2023 solar eclipse.
The Cortez Airport is hosting its 3rd Annual Fly-In, and has prepared for a solar eclipse viewing on the airport runway! This unobstructed view of the Sun, and festive atmosphere will make for optimal solar eclipse viewing! The City of Cortez is also donating solar eclipse glasses, so if you haven't purchased your certified solar eclipse glasses yet, you can get them at the Fly-In!
Other popular spots include Hawkins Preserve, Mesa Verde National Park, and Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. These locations, in addition to the airport, provide unobstructed views of the Sun, making them ideal for eclipse watching.
Planning Your Solar Eclipse Experience in Cortez
Pre-Eclipse Preparations...
Before the eclipse, familiarize yourself with the local weather forecast to ensure clear skies. Additionally, make sure you have all the necessary equipment, including your eclipse glasses and a reliable camera if you plan to capture the event.
Cortez’s hotels are already filled up, so make sure you book a room TODAY! Cozy Inn has just a few rooms left
If you are looking for a more rugged experience, check out Bright Star Campground, West View Campround, or The Views RV & Campground located just outside of Cortez.
Post-Eclipse Exploration!
After the eclipse, consider exploring the Montezuma Heritage Museum to learn about Cortez’s local history or book a ghost tour with Cortez Tours to learn about the spooky part of our history!
(Use code: ECLIPSE to get 23% off any tour with Cortez Tours in honor of the 2023 annular solar eclipse, October 13 - 15!)
Looking for a place to relax after the solar eclipse? The Zu Gallery is a favorite art gallery & wine bar and a common place for locals to congregate. WildEdge Brewing Collective, just up the street from The Zu, is a great local Colorado brewery with good food and good people.
Looking for Food?: Post Eclipse Food in Cortez, Colorado:
If you are looking for something to eat, check out Loungin’ Lizard or the Farm Bistro, for American-Southwest Fusion Food. (You can hear the true Wild West stories of both these restaurants on our GHOST TOUR!) If you are looking for an Asian flare, Stonefish Sushi has deliciously fresh fish. A little further outside of downtown is Thai Cortez, which is a personal favorite of my husband’s & mine.
There are also several great Mexican Restaurants in Cortez including: Agave Azul, Gustavo’s, Mi Mexico & La Casita.
If you aren’t sticking around for dinner, Main Street Brewery has great lunch options, good beer, and even better artwork, and Burger Boy’s Drive-In has the BEST milkshakes in the Four Corners!