The weather in London is pouring with rain today so with some irony I am going to talk about the Total Solar Eclipse due to pass over North America on 8 April 2024. The last one wasn’t that long ago in 2017 but the next one, if you miss this one, is in 2044 so there is plenty of time to plan a road trip to your nearest path.

The UK doesn’t see another Total Eclipse of the Sun until 2090 so the one that was witnessed in August 1999 is going to have been the only experience for that generation.

I am not a scientist but there are different types of eclipses

Total: When the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and as the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun the view of the Sun is blacked out leaving only the Sun’s Corona visible.

Annular: When the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth but the Moon is at its furthest point from  the Earth leaving more of the Sun visible because the Moon appears much smaller.

Partial: This occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are not aligned properly.

In 2023 there was an Annular Eclipse over the lower 48 that started in Oregon and ended over Texas.

NASA has detailed maps of the event and explanations of what to experience on the day. The path of 2024 will start over Mexico at approximately 11:00 and track over the following states before it exits over New Foundland in Canada at 17:16 (local).

• Oklahoma
• Arkansas
• Missouri
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Tennessee
• Michigan

The path of totality is only 115 miles wide so if you are outside of that path you will only see a partial eclipse. Travel to locations with the 115 mile band is likely to be booked up soon and camping opportunities are becoming limited.

Major cities that fall within the path of totality include Dallas TX (12:23 Partial – Total 13:40), Idabel OK (12:28 Partial – Total 13:45), Little Rock, AK (12:33 Partial – Total 13:51), Poplar Bluff MO (12:39 Partial – Total 13:56). Others include: Rochester and Buffalo in NY, Cleveland OH and Indianapolis IN.

In Dallas the Perot Museum will be hosting a special Total Eclipse event but check what events are happening in other major cities to witness the Total Eclipse.

Although only lasting for about 4 and a half minutes the skies will darken and the birds will fall silent because they think it is night again.

For detailed information and timings see Total Solar Eclipse 2024 USA

The prediction is that the best chance of seeing the Total Eclipse is in Mexico and Southern Texas and obviously the clearer the skies on 08 April the better the viewing chances will be.

Protect your eyes and do not look directly at the Sun or take photos without a special lens. Eclipse glasses are readily available online from Amazon. Alternatively use a safe Solar Viewer.