We are less than two weeks away from the astronomical event of the decade: A total eclipse of the sun, which will grace the nation’s skies from Texas to Maine on the afternoon of Monday, April 8. Millions of people are expected to travel to see the spectacle, which will also attract scientists from across the country to study its unique effects on the Earth and its atmosphere. The full total solar eclipse experience will plunge people along a narrow path into darkness midday, but people outside the path of totality could still use eclipse glasses to see the moon pass in front of the sun. It’s an awesome and confusing sight on the ground and in the sky.
One task to do now is to get yourself a pair of special eclipse glasses. They’re important eyewear during an eclipse because they will block out the sun’s harmful rays, which could damage your eyes when you’re looking at the sun — even if it’s partially blocked. Solar eclipse glasses are still readily available from plenty of vendors across the internet as of Thursday, March 28. But be wary of counterfeit or fake glasses, experts warned. The other big factor everyone’s anxiously awaiting is the weather forecast, which most experts say is still a bit far away for a specific forecast. But more detailed, realistic forecasts will start to roll in over the next few days.
Of particular interest will be the cloud forecast, as a deck of thick, low clouds would likely ruin the entire event. But if the clouds are higher up in the atmosphere, such as thin, wispy cirrus, they’d act to diffuse but not ruin the eclipse. There’s plenty to know before the big day, which won’t happen again for about two decades. Read on for answers for all your eclipse questions, including how to watch the eclipse, understand the eclipse and use eclipse glasses to stay safe.
How do I watch the 2024 solar eclipse? There are a few ways of watching the eclipse: Get the full experience in person: If you’re in a narrow band of U.S. land that spans from Texas to Maine, you’ll be able to see the total solar eclipse. You can also watch a live stream online. Many observatories, science centers, and astronomy clubs will also host viewing events. If you’re outside the path of totality, you can still see a partial eclipse. But remember, you must wear eclipse glasses to look at the sun during the partial phases.
