A total solar eclipse is set to grace the skies of the United States on April 8, 2024, offering astronomy enthusiasts a chance to witness the rare celestial event where the moon completely obscures the sun.
The eclipse’s trajectory will see it enter the U.S. in Texas and conclude its journey in Maine. This occurrence marks the final opportunity to observe a total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States until 2044.
The eclipse’s path will traverse North America, spanning regions of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. In the U.S., it will traverse through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Portions of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse, with the event’s visibility contingent on weather conditions.
The eclipse is scheduled to commence at approximately 11:07 a.m. PDT on Mexico’s Pacific coast and conclude at 5:16 p.m. NDT on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The duration of totality, when the sun is entirely obscured by the moon, will peak at 4 minutes and 28 seconds near Torreón, Mexico. Most locations along the path of totality will encounter a duration of totality ranging from 3.5 to 4 minutes.
The optimal vantage point for observing the total solar eclipse is along the path of totality. Thirteen states fall within this path, with numerous communities making preparations to host eclipse watch parties in anticipation of the influx of visitors.
