The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 is one of the most significant astronomical events of the year. Observers from the United States, Mexico and Canada will have the opportunity to witness this event. To find detailed eclipse maps and times for your location, consult the Eclipse Guide app. Now let’s discuss everything you need to know about the upcoming eclipse.
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What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and Earth and completely blocks the view of the solar disk. During a total eclipse we can see the sun’s corona (the outer atmosphere).
Why is the 2024 total solar eclipse special?
More than 600,000,000 spectators
The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 will be visible over North America. About 652,000,000 people those living in the United States, Canada, Mexico and other countries will be able to see at least a partial eclipse, and 43,800,000 of them will be on the path of totality. And that’s excluding tourists!
Big corona
Like the moon, the sun has cycles. A solar cycle lasts 11 years, during which the sun’s activity (number and size of sunspots, level of solar radiation, solar flares and coronal loops) varies. The 2024 total solar eclipse falls during the period of maximum activity, so The Sun’s corona (the outer part of the Sun’s atmosphere) is expected to be enormous during totality.
Bright comet and planets in the sky
During the eclipse, observers can see comet 12P/Pons-Brooks at 27º from the Sun. The comet may be bright enough to be visible to the naked eye (its apparent magnitude will be around 4), but sunlight can obscure visibility. Planets Venus and Jupiter will also be in the sky along with the eclipsed Sun. You can easily spot all these objects using the stargazing app Sky Tonight.
Path of the April 8 eclipse: where to see the 2024 solar eclipse
The path of the 2024 total solar eclipse begins in the Pacific Ocean and crosses most of North America and a small part of Europe. Check the Eclipse Guide app for up-to-date interactive solar eclipse maps. The app will also calculate the eclipse timeline for the selected location and show you what the eclipse will look like in the sky.
Where can the 2024 total solar eclipse be seen?
The 2024 total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the US, Mexico and Canada.
- In Mexico the totality will be visible over the cities Mazatlán, Torreón and Durango. Incidentally, 6 kilometers from the small town of Nazas in Durango state, observers will experience the longest totality (4m 28s) of any location.
- In the U.S will be the path of eclipse Crossing 15 states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont. The best visibility will be in the cities of Dallas, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Montpelier, Vermont; Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York; and Cleveland, Dayton and Lima, Ohio.
- In Canada the eclipse will visit the maritime provinces and be best visible from Montreal, Fredericton, Gander, Miramichi and Kingston.
The Eclipse Guide app collects the best locations to observe the eclipse. To view the list, tap the “Map” button in the bottom right corner of the screen and go to the “Best Places” section.
Where can the 2024 partial solar eclipse be seen?
Regions close enough to the path of totality may see a partial eclipse: the moon will not completely cover the solar disk, but will only take a “bite” out of it. This time the partial eclipse will be visible over North America, the northern part of South America and a small part of Europe.
- In South America observers will go out Belize, Guatemala, Cuba and the Bahamas seeing a 40% partial eclipse;
- In Europe the partial eclipse will be visible over Iceland, Ireland and the western parts of Portugal and the UK. Depending on the exact location, 20% to 60% of the sun will be obscured.
When is the total solar eclipse in 2024?
Here is the general timeline of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The start and end times are given for the first and last locations to experience the eclipse, not for any specific location. Remember to convert GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time.
- The partial phase starts at 15:42 GMT;
- Totality begins at 16:38 GMT;
- The maximum eclipse is at 18:17 GMT;
- Totality ends at 19:55 GMT;
- The partial phase ends at 20:52 GMT.
Eclipse Guide will help you calculate an eclipse timeline for any location. Tap the “Sky” button in the bottom left corner of the screen and go to the “Custom” section. Enter a city name and tap the corresponding result to get an eclipse timeline for the desired location. Please note that the timeline is based on the time zone your device is currently in, so be aware of the time difference.
How to safely observe the 2024 total solar eclipse
The sun is beautiful but dangerous to observe. Bright sunlight can damage your eyes, so it’s best to follow some basic safety rules:
- Use the right eclipse glasses: Regular sunglasses or custom-made sun filters do not protect your eyes.
- Use a solar filter when observing the sun through a telescope or binoculars. Lenses concentrate sunlight into rays that can burn paper. Imagine what can happen to your eyes.
- Do not look directly at the sun. Look away as you put on and take off your eclipse glasses or sunscreen. If you don’t have one, use indirect viewing methods: use pinhole projectors or project the sun’s image onto a white surface.
When is the next eclipse in 2024?
This year, after the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, we expect two more eclipses:
Check Eclipse Guide and our constantly updated infographic with the 5 upcoming eclipses to stay up to date on the latest eclipse news.
List of 5 upcoming lunar and solar eclipses, their dates, timelines and visibility maps. Check if you can see them from your location.
See Infographic
Summary of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024
The total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will cross parts of 15 US states, Mexico and Canada. Nearby regions will have a chance to see a partial eclipse. During the eclipse, the bright comet 12P/Pons-Brooks and the planets Venus and Jupiter will be visible in the sky.
Tags: Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse April Solar eclipse Solar eclipse America
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