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Total Solar Eclipse in America
April 8, 2024

On April 8, 2024, the second total solar eclipse in the U.S. in less than seven years will travel up through the country from Texas to Maine. The 2024 eclipse, known as the "Great North American Eclipse," promises to be even more spectacular than the historic 2017 eclipse, crossing over or coming close to more major cities and with a maximum duration of totality that's almost two minutes longer!

Join us as we count the days until nature's greatest show returns to the U.S.!









Featured Eclipse Offers and Destinations

Types of Eclipses

What is an Eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun and the Moon blocks the Sun for a viewer on Earth. During a total eclipse, the Moon lines up perfectly to fully obscure the Sun, resulting in "totality"; in a partial eclipse, the Moon and the Sun are not perfectly aligned and only part of the Sun is blocked; and during an annular eclipse, alignment is perfect but the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely obscure the Sun. The fact that a total solar eclipse is visible from Earth only along a very narrow path for just a few short minutes makes totality one of nature's rarest events.

WHAT IS A LUNAR ECLIPSE? | WHAT IS A TRANSIT?

Total Solar Eclipse

What to Expect

Most people who have seen a total eclipse have described it as the most spectacular natural event they have ever witnessed. It starts as the Moon slowly obscures more and more of the Sun. As the eclipse deepens, the world around you takes on a strange tint and shadows become sharp and detailed. When just a thin crescent of light can be seen through your eclipse glasses, daylight begins to fade and rippling "shadow bands" might be seen on the ground. And then "totality," as the soft wisps of the solar corona surround a huge hole where the Sun used to be. You might notice a temperature drop and birds flying home to their nests. You're standing in a strange twilight, while a "sunset" glows all around you. Finally, totality comes to an end and the events occur in reverse order.

Eclipse Glasses

Eclipse Safety

Since looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage or even blindness, special eclipse safety glasses or viewers must always be used during a solar eclipse (sunglasses are not safe). The small amount of light emitted during even a 99.9 percent eclipse is still dangerous. The only time it's safe to look at a total eclipse without proper eye protection is during the brief period of "totality" when the Sun is 100 percent blocked by the Moon. If you're not located in the path of totality, there is never a time when it's safe to look with unprotected eyes. Attempting to view an eclipse using binoculars, telescopes, cameras, or other devices that don't have their own special front-mounted solar filters is extremely hazardous. (See our Safety page for more information.)

Clouds

Eclipse Weather

One of the most important factors to consider, both when planning an eclipse trip and in the days leading up to an eclipse, is the weather. A few stray clouds at the wrong moment can ruin years of planning! During the 2017 eclipse, much of the western U.S. enjoyed clear skies while clouds spoiled the view in some parts of the central and eastern U.S. Some long-term projections were accurate while others missed the mark. As many people discovered, climate is not the same as weather and clouds can appear at any time, so eclipse chasers need to remain mobile and be ready to move quickly to another location if clouds move in. In 2017, many people found clear skies just a short drive away from their original clouded-out locations! (See our Weather page for more information.)

Other U.S. Eclipses

Other U.S. Eclipses

After only a seven-year wait, the next total solar eclipse in America will occur in 2024, when the path of totality will travel up through the country from Texas to Maine. The 2017 coast-to-coast U.S.-only eclipse crossed the nation from Oregon to South Carolina and was the first seen from the United States since 1991, when a total eclipse was visible in Hawaii, and the first witnessed in the contiguous U.S. since 1979, when the path of totality traveled only through five northwestern states. Alaska will get a total solar eclipse in 2033 and totality will be seen in Montana and North Dakota in 2044. Another coast-to-coast eclipse will come to America in 2045, entering in California and exiting in Florida. In 2052, a total solar eclipse will skim parts of six southern states.

Eclipse Maps

The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will cross over 13 states, entering in Texas and exiting in Maine. The map below shows the path of totality over Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. To experience the total phase of the eclipse, you must be located within the narrow path of totality represented on the map below. Areas outside the path of totality will get a partial solar eclipse only.

Remember that you must use special eclipse safety glasses or viewers at all times during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse. The NationalEclipse.com Eclipse Store offers a wide variety of certified safe eclipse glasses and viewers.

Total Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024 - USA Map
VIEW DETAILED MAPS OF THE PATH OF TOTALITY IN EACH STATE

SEE A DETAILED STATE-BY-STATE OVERVIEW OF THE ECLIPSE

SEE A MAP COMPARING THE 2017 AND 2024 SOLAR ECLIPSES IN THE U.S.

SEE A MAP COMPARING THE 2023 AND 2024 SOLAR ECLIPSES IN THE U.S.


VIEW MAPS OF OTHER UPCOMING TOTAL AND ANNULAR ECLIPSES

SEE A MAP OF ALL 21ST CENTURY TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES IN THE CONTIGUOUS U.S.

Total Eclipse Cities

To experience the total phase of the 2024 eclipse, you must be located within the narrow path of totality. The following is a list of large and noteworthy U.S. cities that are located within the path of totality on April 8, 2024.

Remember that you must use special eclipse safety glasses or viewers at all times during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse. The NationalEclipse.com Eclipse Store offers a wide variety of certified safe eclipse glasses and viewers.

Note that times and durations can vary widely even within the same city and some cities are located only partially within the path of totality. All times and durations shown on this page are only representative samples and should be used for general comparison purposes only. To determine the precise start time, end time, and duration of totality for your exact location on eclipse day, use the interactive Google eclipse maps developed by Xavier Jubier.

(click or tap on any column header to re-sort)

(rotate screen horizontally for a sortable table)

City, State Totality Start Duration*
San Antonio, TX*1:33:01 PM CDT2:03
Austin, TX1:36:11 PM CDT1:44
Fort Worth, TX1:40:28 PM CDT2:33
Dallas, TX1:40:43 PM CDT3:51
Poteau, OK*1:48:49 PM CDT1:22
Conway, AR1:51:08 PM CDT3:53
Little Rock, AR1:51:41 PM CDT2:20
Jonesboro, AR1:55:37 PM CDT2:21
Cape Girardeau, MO1:58:22 PM CDT4:06
Carbondale, IL1:59:16 PM CDT4:08
Evansville, IN2:02:37 PM CDT3:03
Henderson, KY2:02:43 PM CDT2:30
Terre Haute, IN3:04:23 PM EDT2:57
Bloomington, IN3:04:52 PM EDT4:02
Indianapolis, IN3:06:04 PM EDT3:49
Muncie, IN3:07:35 PM EDT3:47
Dayton, OH3:09:29 PM EDT2:43
Toledo, OH3:12:17 PM EDT1:53
Cleveland, OH3:13:46 PM EDT3:49
Akron, OH3:14:14 PM EDT2:46
Erie, PA3:16:24 PM EDT3:40
Buffalo, NY3:18:21 PM EDT3:45
Rochester, NY3:20:09 PM EDT3:39
Syracuse, NY3:23:04 PM EDT1:24
Burlington, VT3:26:08 PM EDT3:15
Montpelier, VT3:27:39 PM EDT1:35
Lancaster, NH*3:29:17 PM EDT0:43
Presque Isle, ME*3:32:09 PM EDT2:49

Eclipse data courtesy of Fred Espenak, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, from eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov. Note that times and durations can vary widely even within the same city and some cities are located only partially within the path of totality. All times and durations shown on this page are only representative samples and should be used for general comparison purposes only. To determine the precise start time, end time, and duration of totality for your exact location on eclipse day, use the interactive Google eclipse maps developed by Xavier Jubier.

* "Duration" refers to the duration of totality and is expressed in minutes and seconds; large parts of San Antonio, TX, are outside the path of totality; since the path of totality doesn't cross any major cities in Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Maine, the three cities with the largest populations are listed: Poteau, OK, Lancaster, NH, and Presque Isle, ME


SEE A STATE-BY-STATE LIST OF MORE TOTAL ECLIPSE CITIES

SEE A LIST OF PARTIAL ECLIPSE CITIES

SEE A DETAILED STATE-BY-STATE OVERVIEW OF THE ECLIPSE

ECLIPSE STORE

The NationalEclipse.com Eclipse Store is an expertly curated collection of eclipse-related items to help you prepare for your next eclipse and celebrate nature's greatest show.

Please note that NationalEclipse.com does not make, sell, nor set the price of any of the products featured in our store, except where noted. Third-party product links are provided for your convenience and go to third-party sellers. If you have questions about a particular product, please contact the manufacturer/seller through the link provided.

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SEE THE ENTIRE COLLECTION

Please note that NationalEclipse.com does not make, sell, nor set the price of any of the products featured in our store, except where noted. Third-party product links are provided for your convenience and go to third-party sellers. If you have questions about a particular product, please contact the manufacturer/seller through the link provided.

Featured Eclipse Offers and Destinations

Eclipse Store