GREAT AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE TO BE WITNESS IN 2024
What's in store for April 8, 2024? Mark your calendars now because a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event will hit the United States in two years. The North American Great Solar Eclipse, a total solar eclipse that occurs on the moon, leaves a fleeting trail of shadow from Mexico to Canada. The phenomenon can be seen from most of the lower 48 states (also known as the "Lower 48"), but a band from Texas to Maine best observes the entire eclipse when the sun is completely hidden. You can do it. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking all or part of the sunlight. An annual eclipse is a partial solar eclipse in which the moon is too far from Earth to block out all light. However, total solar eclipses are even rarer.
Occurs approximately every 18 months. This happens when the Moon is close enough to Earth to obscure the much larger (and much more distant) Sun. A small portion of the Earth becomes dramatically shadowed, and the shadow moves across the Earth. Since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, this darkness has struck the United States only 21 times. The last total solar eclipse to cross the United States occurred in 2017.
Millions of people reported witnessing the celestial phenomenon. It was the first time in 40 years that a total solar eclipse occurred in this country. After the solar eclipse scheduled for 2024, the next solar eclipse in the United States will not occur until the year 2045. If you want to see this amazing event from the best vantage point, check out our maps and charts detailing the 124-mile-wide band that shows when and where the total solar eclipse will occur. For example, viewers in Cleveland, Ohio will lose 3 minutes and 50 seconds of sunlight on April 8, 2024, at 3:13 PM EDT. Hotels in areas within the range of the eclipse are expected to fill up quickly.
Even if you can't get to the totality, you can still see the eclipse, depending on the weather. A partial solar eclipse can be seen. You need solar eclipse glasses no matter where you are. Staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse is extremely dangerous and can cause permanent damage to your eyes. It's safe to view without glasses only during totality and when you're in the right place. Eclipse glasses must be approved by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The American Astronomical Society has created a helpful list of quality providers for your eclipse viewing needs. Buy your glasses and mark April 8, 2024, on your calendar to see one of the world's greatest shows.