Early April brings with it a pretty rare and stunning event - a total solar eclipse.
Scheduled for April 8, it's something that many people will be making grand plans to see.
The path of the eclipse will go straight through a big strip of the US and Canada, but this 'path of totality' can prove a bit of a snare.
As it turns out, there are plenty of places in the US holding events or shows that might be slightly overpromising, based on their actual location relative to that path.
Advert
Thankfully, Forbes has published a list of places you might want to avoid if you've got your heart set on seeing a total eclipse - some of these might still offer a pretty good partial eclipse, but not the whole deal.
The observations come from the writer Jamie Carter, who describes himself as the 'world's only solar eclipse journalist', which is a pretty precise label.
The events to avoid are pretty varied, and start with one held at The Center for Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. Since it will only get a partial eclipse, Carter recommends getting as far northwest as Dublin, Ohio, for the best view chance.
Advert
According to Carter, Science Central, in Fort Wayne, Indiana is near totality - but not quite at 99.89%. Instead, he recommends 70 miles away to Wapakoneta for more minutes of total darkness.
Similarly, Edgewater Sport Park in Cincinnati will only get a partial view - whereas nine miles away, Miami Whitewater Forest will have totality to offer (and a free event to boot).
The Alamo and River Walk, in San Antonio have plenty of events to offer, but Carter suggests they could become over-crowded and lack totality, so you could head west into the Hill Country for a superior experience.
.jpg)
Advert
Another example he gives? Swap out Ithaca, New York and instead drive under an hour away to Seneca Falls.
The same goes for Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site, in Texas - the nearby Amistad National Recreation Area will get nearly three minutes of actual totality.
Up in Canada, the Fogo Island Inn, in Newfoundland will have a 99% eclipse of its own, but if you head to Cape Freels instead you'll get a short totality.
That's a pretty comprehensive list of places to avoid, with handy replacements, so if you're headed to any events be sure to double-check whether they'll actually get a genuine total eclipse or not.