The sky will darken due to the solar eclipse April 2024. This is a rare astronomical phenomenon. Those lucky enough to see the sun’s corona and a “diamond ring” may behold breathtaking scenes of a solar eclipse April 2024. More than 30 million individuals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico are situated along the path of totality, where the sun is fully covered by the moon.
Different regions will experience an incomplete solar eclipse 2024, with the level of darkness determined by proximity to the total eclipse. Observing the moon partially block the sun is a truly awe-inspiring visual experience.
So, which cities and regions will experience total solar eclipse 2024, and when? What’s the weather forecast in those areas? And if you do have a clear view, how can you safely watch and record a solar eclipse 2024?
When US will experience the total solar eclipse 2024 and where?
Millions of people will have the opportunity to witness a complete solar eclipse 2024 as many large centers fall within the 100-mile-wide zone of totality. Traveling in a northeast direction, the total eclipse will be visible in Mazatlan on Mexico’s Pacific coast at 10:57 AM PDT, with Torreón following shortly after (all times local), starting at 12:07 PDT.
The complete solar eclipse enters the United States at 12:10 PM CDT in Eagle Pass, Texas, before passing through Austin, Fort Worth, and Dallas – three of the top five most populated cities in Texas. It then progresses to Little Rock, Arkansas, before expanding to certain areas of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana (such as Indianapolis).
Some facts by The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Ohio cities Dayton, Toledo, and Cleveland receive the entire performance, then Erie, Pennsylvania, followed by Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse in New York, along with Maine. Canada is also joining the excitement, with regions in southern Ontario (Hamilton, Niagara Falls) and Quebec (Montreal) experiencing the total eclipse, as well as New Brunswick, PEI, and Bonavista, Labrador at 4:03 PM NDT (Newfoundland Time).
If you are in a different part of the continent and unable to travel, understand that the nearer you are to the path of totality, the greater the sun will be blocked by the moon (this map indicates the extent of the eclipse you will experience based on your location).
A remarkable number of significant cities lie within a 200-mile radius of totality, ensuring they will experience a 90 percent or greater eclipse (including Houston, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Toronto, New York, Boston).
People in the southern, central, and northern regions of the United States will have a good view, as well as those in the southeastern and Atlantic coast regions of Canada. Even if you are not located in those areas, you could still witness (and photograph) a minor eclipse.
How long will the solar eclipse April 2024 last?
There is a substantial time lapse of up to two hours and forty minutes in Dallas and 2:18 in Caribou, Maine, from when the moon begins partially covering the sun until they move apart.
However, the overall duration is constrained, depending on how close one is to the center of the area and the time of day. In Dallas, it requires slightly under four minutes, in Presque Island, Maine less than three minutes, and in Montreal just a minute and 12 seconds. So, you need to be ready and hope for good weather during that brief timeframe.
How can I watch or record a total solar eclipse 2024?
Many people are excited to see or click photographs of the forthcoming solar eclipse. Here’s a quick guide to help you make the most of the event:
- Safety first: Never look straight at the sun without proper eye protection. Invest in certified solar viewing glasses or use other means, such as pinhole projectors.
- Check your equipment to make sure you have everything you need for recording solar eclipse April 2024 photographs. A DSLR camera with a sun filter, or a smartphone with a solar filter attachment, can provide spectacular photographs.
- Location, Location, Location: Select a viewing location with a clear view of the sky, away from large buildings or trees that may obscure the view.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Before using your equipment, familiarize yourself with it. Experiment with cameras.
More resources
Many government and private websites provide additional information on the eclipse, including the AAS’s site which covers eye safety, imaging, resources, and a totality app. This app offers an interactive map displaying the viewing experience at any location in North America during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
NASA, the National Weather Service, and the National Solar Observatory all have websites specifically for the North American Eclipse. Great American Eclipse, a private website, is mostly focused on making money but it does offer a helpful map displaying the path of totality and the extent of the eclipse visible based on where you are, as well as a detailed schedule of total solar eclipse 2024 timings and durations in various cities.
