Main points
- On April 8, a total solar eclipse will occur in North America.
- The path of the eclipse will begin in Mexico and end in Canada. Solar eclipse glasses are essential to protect your eyes while viewing.
- Here’s an interactive map you can use to capture its path, plus our picks for the best glasses and gadgets to view it safely.
Next month, a solar eclipse will cross the North American continent and block out our sun.
The total solar eclipse will begin on the Pacific coast of Mexico and move across North America into southeastern Canada. Solar eclipses are not uncommon. They occur on average every 18 months, but only a handful of solar eclipses have passed through most of North America in the past 100 years, and none lingered over the continent longer than the next. long. This makes the upcoming celestial event a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view one of the most mesmerizing phenomena on Earth.
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If you plan to view a solar eclipse, you need to be prepared. These include special glasses or gadgets to help protect your eyes from the sun.
When is the solar eclipse in 2024?
Total solar eclipse path
NASA
The eclipse will begin over the Pacific Ocean and will be visible from the Mexican coastline near Mazatlan at 11:07 a.m. PDT or 2:07 p.m. EDT. From there, the eclipse will slowly move across North America and enter the United States at 1:27 PM CDT or 2:27 PM EST.
The amount of time the eclipse is visible depends on your distance from the center of the path of totality. If you happen to be in the center of the path of totality, you can experience the eclipse for up to four minutes. The farther away you are from the center, the shorter the total eclipse will be, until you no longer see a total eclipse but a partial eclipse. You can use the map below to see exactly where the total solar eclipse will be visible.
Solar Eclipse Interactive Map
The red line shows the center of the total solar eclipse’s path, while the yellow line shows the furthest point from where you can see the total eclipse.
eclipse time
Before we get to the meat of it, we need to look at another factor in viewing a solar eclipse: the weather. Clouds or rain may prevent you from seeing the eclipse. Here’s why experts agree. The best chance of viewing the eclipse is actually in the Southwest, where there will be less cloud cover than in the Northeast. Here are details on all the major cities in the eclipse’s path and when they will experience the event.
|
City |
eclipse time |
eclipse duration |
|---|---|---|
|
Mazatlan, Mexico |
11:07 AM (Central Standard Time) |
4 meters 26 seconds |
|
Durango, Mexico |
11:30 AM (Central Standard Time) |
4 meters 25 seconds |
|
Torreon, Mexico |
12:00 noon (Central Standard Time) |
4 meters 27 seconds |
|
Dallas, Texas, USA |
01:34 PM (Central Standard Time) |
3m 49s |
|
Austin, Texas, USA |
01:36 PM (Central Standard Time) |
3 meters 48 seconds |
|
Fort Worth, Texas, USA |
01:38 PM (Central Standard Time) |
3m 50 seconds |
|
Arlington, Texas, USA |
01:39 PM (Central Standard Time) |
3 meters 51 seconds |
|
Killeen, Texas, USA |
01:41 PM (Central Standard Time) |
4 meters 8 seconds |
|
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA |
01:54 PM (Central Standard Time) |
3m 58s |
|
Carbondale, Illinois, USA |
01:59 PM (Central Standard Time) |
4 meters 9 seconds |
|
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
03:06 PM (Central Standard Time) |
3 meters 55 seconds |
|
Columbus, Ohio, USA |
03:14 PM ET |
3 meters 48 seconds |
|
Toledo, Ohio, USA |
03:15 PM ET |
3 meters 44 seconds |
|
Erie, Pennsylvania, USA |
03:16 PM ET |
3 meters 40 seconds |
|
Akron, Ohio, United States |
03:16 PM ET |
3 meters 46 seconds |
|
Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
03:17 PM ET |
3 meters 51 seconds |
|
Buffalo, New York, USA |
03:18 PM ET |
3 meters 47 seconds |
|
Lansing, Michigan, USA |
03:18 PM ET |
3 meters 42 seconds |
|
Rochester, New York, USA |
03:19 PM ET |
3 meters 34 seconds |
|
hamilton ontario canada |
03:22 PM ET |
3 meters 38 seconds |
|
Burlington, Vermont, USA |
03:26 PM ET |
3 meters 27 seconds |
|
Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
03:29 PM ET |
3 meters 34 seconds |
|
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
03:32 PM ET |
3 meters 14 seconds |
|
fredericton, new brunswick, canada |
03:49 PM ET |
3 minutes and 24 seconds |
|
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
05:01 PM ET |
2 meters 33 seconds |
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Do you really need eclipse glasses?
Do not raise your head (without protection)
Yes, according to NASA, to view a solar eclipse, you’ll need special glasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s glare as well as infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Viewing the solar eclipse without eclipse glasses can cause serious eye damage, including blindness and retinal burns. Solar eclipse glasses are designed to comply with ISO 12312-2, an international safety standard that ensures the glasses block enough of the sun’s rays while still allowing the solar eclipse to be observed.
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Solar eclipse glasses are worth buying
Where to buy solar eclipse glasses
biniki
Finding the best eclipse glasses really comes down to price and style. You can find cheap eclipse glasses made of cardboard, usually in packs of 10, for less than $15. If you’re looking for something a little more stylish, you can find eclipse glasses that are a little more expensive and look more like regular sunglasses.
Here are some of the best ISO 12312-2 compliant solar eclipse glasses at various price points:
-
Biniki solar eclipse glasses
If you’re hosting a party, or just want to make sure the whole family can see the eclipse, this six-pack of NASA-approved solar eclipse glasses is the perfect choice. Six pairs of glasses will suffice for most households, and at under $10, it’s a great deal for glasses you’ll likely never wear again.
advantage- six-pack
- NASA approved
- Under $10
-
Halo Phoenix Noir 3-in-1 eclipse viewing glasses
You don’t just throw away Eclipse glasses. They’re a bit pricey, but you won’t be throwing them away after the eclipse. The bottom frame of glass filters blue light. It comes with two clip-on frames, a pair of regular sunglasses and another pair for viewing the eclipse.
advantage- Not just for the eclipse
- Chassis blocks blue light
- 2 additional shots, one for the eclipse
-
Medical King Solar Eclipse Glasses
If you’re looking for a good compromise between cheap and stylish, Medical King’s six-piece eclipse glasses are perfect for you. They have a matte black plastic finish, which makes them look a little more adult than the cardboard options.
advantage- six-pack
- Map including eclipse path
Fun Gadgets for Watching the Solar Eclipse
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Better viewing of the solar eclipse
Celestron
Eclipse glasses aren’t the only way to watch the moon obscure the sun. There are many ways you can get a better view using telescopes and binoculars designed for viewing solar eclipses. If you already have a telescope, there are also eclipse lenses. You can even get a dedicated lens for your phone.
-
Celestron Solar Eclipse Telescope
$110 $130 Save $20
What better place to observe a solar eclipse than through a telescope designed for viewing the sun? This telescope has a built-in lens for observing solar eclipses or simply examining sunspots. It also comes with a carrying case for easy transportation and storage.
-
Celestron Solar Eclipse Telescope and Camera Filters
If you already own a telescope or want to photograph a solar eclipse, you’ll need an ISO 12312-2:2015(E) certified lens. It fits most telescopes and DSLR cameras, and best of all, it’s cheaper than buying a dedicated telescope.
advantage- This is a good choice if you already have a telescope
- Also suitable for DSLR cameras
-
Eclipsmart Solar Eclipse Binoculars
It’s important to remember that a solar eclipse only lasts a maximum of four minutes. Binoculars are easier to operate than telescopes and can be passed around, so larger groups can easily view the eclipse up close. It has a rubber-coated aluminum body, making it perfect for children.
advantage- cheaper option
- Very suitable for parties
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FAQ
Q: When is the next total solar eclipse in the United States?
The next total solar eclipse you can see without leaving North America will occur on August 23, 2044.
Q: How rare are total solar eclipses in North America?
Although we just experienced another large total solar eclipse across North America in 2017, this is actually a very rare phenomenon, with the 2017 eclipse and the 2024 eclipse representing the largest solar eclipses on the continent in modern times .
Q: How is a total solar eclipse different from other solar eclipses?
During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun, leaving only the edges of the solar corona visible. This would happen even though the Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, because the Sun is also 400 times farther from the Earth than the Moon is. Other common solar eclipses include partial eclipses (when the moon blocks only part of the sun) and annular eclipses (when the moon is too far from the Earth to block the entire sun).