Get ready to witness one of the greatest celestial events of the decade: a total solar eclipse is set to sweep across North America on April 8, 2024, casting millions of people into midday darkness.
This spectacle will be visible across a diagonal line spanning 13 US states, from the Pacific to parts of the Midwest and Northeast, and will be visible within a 115-mile wide swath known as the path of totality. The eclipse will first reach land over Mexico around 11:07 a.m. local time and will last around four and a half minutes – almost twice as long as the last total solar eclipse in 2017.
For those living outside the path of totality, a partial solar eclipse can still be observed where the moon takes a bite out of the sun and turns it into a crescent shape. This occurs when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light from reaching us.
“It’s been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. That was on Aug. 21, 2017. If you miss next year’s spectacle, you’ll have to wait 20 years until the next one hits the U.S. But that total eclipse will only be visible in Montana and the Dakotas,” warns NASA.
This event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those who want to witness the majesty of the universe, and cities in the path of totality, including Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo, will offer some of the best views.
So dust off your eclipse glasses and start planning your trip to witness this awe-inspiring phenomenon. With only a year to go, it’s time to start getting excited about the next total solar eclipse sweeping across North America.
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