The North American Total Solar Eclipse is on April 8, 2024.

Countdown to the 2024 Solar Eclipse

What is A Total Solar Eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon crosses in front of the Sun and completely blocks it. As the Earth passes through the shadow created by the Moon, Moon’s shadow, completely blocking out sunlight and creating a total blackout in its Path of Totality. Outsite of the Path of Totality, a Partial Solar Eclipse will be visisble everywhere in the continental United States and Hawai’i. Basically, there will be some form of eclipse no matter where you are in the contiguous United States.

What To Expect During The Eclipse?

The eclipse will take about three hours. During this time daylight will quickly fade as the Moon blocks out the Sun, temperatures will drop, and flora and fauna will react to the darkness. Flowers may close and animals will go quiet. You will also be able to see other planets, bright stars, and the rare Devil Comet during the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse. The Total Eclipse/total darkness will last about 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Lights and shadows may create shadow bands on the ground. These bands are caused by atmospheric turbulence over Earth which causes refraction and parallel beams of sunlight when the Sun is 99% covered. Shadows cast by leaves on trees may cast shadows that look like small solar crescents. Colors may also look different due to the changing light levels as the Sun is being eclipsed by the Moon. NASA also suggests that the eclipse may also cause strong emotional responses from people.

When Is The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse?

The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is on Monday, April 8, 2024 but the timing of totality depends on where you are. Total solar eclipses happen about once every 375 years.

Where Can You See The Total Solar Eclipse?

Locations on the Path of Totality will experience a Total Solar Eclipse while the rest of the 48 contiguous states will experience a Partial Solar Eclipse.

The Path of Totality is about a 10,000-mile-long (16,000 km) and 115-mile-wide (185 km) path made by the Moon’s shadow as it completely blocks the Sun in the sky. In the U.S., states along the path of totality are Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small corners of Michigan and Tennesee will also experience the Total Solar Eclipse.

Totality lasts up to about 4 minutes and 28 seconds depending on where you are within the path.

What Time Is The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse?

According to NASA, the Pacific coast of Mexico will first experience totality at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.

Traveling southwest to northeast, the Moon’s shadow will take 96 minutes to cross from Mexico to Canada at 2,000 mph and will enter the following states at these times:

• Texas at around 12:30 p.m. CST/ 1:30 p.m. CDT
• Oklahoma at around 1:45 p.m. CDT
• Arkansas at around 1:50 p.m. CDT
• Missouri at around 1:55 p.m. CDT
• Illinois at around 2:00 p.m. CDT
• Kentucky at around 2:00 p.m. CDT
• Tennessee at around 2:00 p.m. CDT
• Indiana at around 3:05 p.m. EDT
• Ohio at around 3:10 p.m. EDT
• Michigan at around 3:15 p.m. EDT
• Pennsylvania at around 3:15 p.m. EDT
• New York at around 3:20 p.m. EDT
• Vermont at around 3:25 p.m. EDT
• New Hampshire at around 3:30 p.m. EDT
• Maine at around 3:30 p.m. EDT

The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

Image Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio. Visit https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005000/a005073/eclipse_map_10800.png to download a higher-res version.

Eclipse Folklore, History, and Rituals

China: In China, people thought a dragon was eating away at the Sun during a solar eclipse. They would shoot arrows at the sky and play drums to try to scare the dragon away.

Native America: During solar eclipses, some Native American tribes would shoot flaming arrows into the sky in order to reignite the Sun.

Vietnam: In Vietnamese folklore, a frog or toad was thought to be eating the Sun during a solar eclipse.

Bad Omen: Many ancient cultures throughout the world believed that solar eclipses were a bad omen from unhappy gods or apocalyptic prophecies.

Modern Astronomy: Scientists began to predict solar eclipses accurately by the mid-1800’s.

Solar Eclipse Art: Many people didn’t believe in the solar eclipse until artist renderings and photography began to emerge. Until the invention of photography, artists would travel with scientists to capture the solar eclipse through paintings.

Hindu Mythology: In Hindu mythology, the demon Rahu, decapitated by the god Vishnu, swallows the Sun causing an eclipse, only for it to be released through his severed neck. After the eclipse is over, people are directed to take a bath and change into fresh and clean clothes. Sprinkling of Ganga water or taking a dip in the Ganga is also supposed to wash away the evil done by the eclipse.

Transformation and Renewal: Indigenous tribes in the Americas viewed eclipses as a time of reflection and renewal, a pause in time to contemplate the cosmos and one’s place within it.

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity: The solar eclipse of 1919 served as a crucial experiment for Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Observations of starlight bending around the Sun’s gravity confirmed his groundbreaking theory, changing physics forever.

Scientific Revelations: Solar eclipses provide unique conditions for scientists to study the Sun’s corona, solar flares, and the ionosphere’s reaction to sudden darkening. NASA will be launching rockets at the Moon during the April 8 eclipse to study how the sudden drop in sunlight affects our upper atmosphere. The mission is known as Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path or APEP.

Egyptian Mythology: Apep is a serpent deity from ancient Egyptian mythology and is the nemesis of the Sun deity Ra. It was said that Apep pursued Ra and every so often nearly consuming him which resulted in an eclipse. NASA’s eclipse rocket launching mission is intentionally named after APEP.

How to stay safe during an eclipse?

It is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection like specially designed eclipse glasses. This also means no looking through lenses like a camera. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.

It is only safe to look during the few minutes during toality when the Moon completely blocks the Sun. We reccomend this family pack from Amazon that is under $12. We may earn a commission to support Naturalist’s Guide as you shop products that we’ve tested and approved.

Eclipse viewing is a Sun activity, don’t forget to also wear sunscreen.

How To Celebrate The April 8 Eclipse

Safety First: Always protect your eyes when observing the sun. Use solar viewing glasses or a solar telescope to safely watch the eclipse. Regular sunglasses are not safe for looking directly at the sun.

Sun Safety: Eclipse viewing is a Sun activity, don’t forget to also wear sunscreen.

Plan Ahead: Know the exact timing of the eclipse in your area. Some eclipses can be partial or full, and you’ll want to be prepared at the right moment to experience it fully.

Choose a Good Location: Find a spot with a clear view of the sky, away from tall buildings or trees that might obstruct your view. High ground often offers the best visibility. Your backyard could be the perfect spot.

Host an Eclipse Party: Gather friends and family for an eclipse viewing party. Share solar viewing glasses for everyone and enjoy the event together.

Capture the Moment: If you’re into photography, a solar eclipse offers a fantastic opportunity for unique photos. Ensure you have the right equipment, like a camera with a solar filter, and practice using it before the eclipse.

Embrace the Moment: While it’s exciting to capture the eclipse on camera or through a telescope with a sun filter, don’t forget to take some time to enjoy the experience with your own eyes (with protective eyewear). The eerie calm and sudden darkness can be quite profound.

Check the Weather: The visibility of the eclipse can be greatly affected by weather conditions. Keep an eye on the forecast and have a backup plan in case of poor visibility.

Harness The Power of The Moon: Take this opportunity to sage, cleanse your space, meditate, charge crystals, manifest, and practice whatever other spirtual rituals you may have.

Celebrate and Recreate Responsibly: If you’re traveling to a prime viewing location, be mindful of the environment and local regulations. Leave no trace behind and respect the natural and local communities.

When Is The Next Eclipse?

The next Total Solar Eclipse in the contiguous United States is on August 25, 2044 and will only be seen in parts of North Dakota and Montana.

Here are other future eclipses according to NASA from https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/

Solar Eclipses

Date	Solar Eclipse Type	Geographic Region of Visibility
Oct. 2, 2024	Annular	An annular solar eclipse will be visible in South America, and a partial eclipse will be visible in South America, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, North America
March 29, 2025	Partial	Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean
Sept. 21, 2025	Partial	Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
Feb. 17, 2026	Annular	An annular solar eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, and a partial eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, Africa, South America, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean
Aug. 12, 2026	Total	A total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal, while a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean

Lunar Eclipses

Date	Lunar Eclipse Type	Geographic Region of Visibility
March 25, 2024	Penumbral	Americas
Sept. 18, 2024	Partial	Americas, Europe, Africa
March 14, 2025	Total	Pacific, Americas, Western Europe, Western Africa

Why Do We Have Total Solar Eclipses?

It is unique that our Sun and Moon appear the same size in the sky allowing for near perfect solar eclipses. Other planets have eclipses, some almost daily. However, Total Solar Eclipses are rare across our Solar System. Our Sun and Moon appear the same size in our sky despite their massive size difference because the Sun’s diameter is roughly 400 times wider than the Moon’s, but it’s also about 400 times further away from Earth. There is a belief in the vexillology community that if Earth ever needed a flag then an image depicting a solar eclipse could be used as a flag design.

Banner Image Credit by Michael S Adler