On April 8, a total solar eclipse will darken the sky for residents along the path of totality in the United States during the 2024 solar eclipse.
This will be the first total solar eclipse in North America after seven years, with the next one not visible from the contiguous United States until August 23, 2044, as confirmed by NASA.
The specific timing of the solar eclipse will vary based on the state and time zone. Moreover, the visibility of the eclipse will be influenced by weather conditions on Monday.
Whether you observe the path of totality from your home or opt to travel to witness it firsthand, here’s what you can anticipate regarding the eclipse timing.
Stay updated on Solar eclipse 2024:Check out the latest weather forecast and timing for your area
What is the schedule for the 2024 solar eclipse?
The eclipse commences in Mexico around 11:07 a.m. PDT on Monday, April 8, crosses into Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT, and wraps up in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT. Even if you are not within the path of totality and cannot witness the complete eclipse, you may still catch a partial view.
To pinpoint the precise timing of the eclipse in your vicinity, you can refer to USA TODAY’s zip code database for a viewing guide.
Even catching a glimpse of a fraction of the eclipse, you can utilize the database to ascertain the time, duration, peak, and percentage visible in your area.
Listed are the key cities in each state where totality can be experienced in the U.S. (note that the times provided do not consider the beginning and end of the partial eclipse):
- Dallas, Texas: 1:40-1:44 p.m. CDT
- Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CDT
- Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51-1:54 p.m. CDT
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 p.m. CDT
- Paducah, Kentucky: 2-2:02 p.m. CDT
- Carbondale, Illinois: 1:59-2:03 p.m. CDT
- Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 p.m. CDT
- Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 p.m. EDT
- Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16-3:20 p.m. EDT
- Buffalo, New York: 3:18-3:22 p.m. EDT
- Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 p.m. EDT
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 p.m. EDT
- Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 p.m. EDT
Where can you witness the 2024 total solar eclipse?
The eclipse initiates in Mexico and traverses into the U.S. through Texas. Subsequently, the approximately 115-mile-wide path of totality extends northeast, cutting through 13 states. In the U.S., totality concludes in Maine, with the eclipse eventually entering the maritime provinces of Canada.
Other significant cities along the path of totality comprise San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Indianapolis; and Rochester and Syracuse, New York.
Contributors: Eric Lagatta, Ramon Padilla, and Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking all or part of the sun’s light from reaching Earth.
2. How often do solar eclipses happen?
Solar eclipses happen somewhere on Earth approximately every 18 months, but any given location will typically only experience a total solar eclipse every few hundred years.
3. Is it safe to look at a solar eclipse?
It is not safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse without proper eye protection, as it can cause permanent eye damage.
