There won't be a solar eclipse like this! Where to go to see it better?
Such a fabulous spectacle happens only once in a lifetime, and you really won't miss it! Where should you be to observe the total solar eclipse 2024 as much as possible and how should you prepare for it? Here are the answers to these and other questions about the eclipse of the century.
The last total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covered the sun, occurred on August 21, 2017. This eclipse could be seen only in a small portion of the states in the U.S., and very few people were able to catch it. But this year something unimaginable awaits us. Very soon, already April 8. Why is the upcoming solar eclipse eclipsing - pardon the pun! - all previous and subsequent ones?
Now the eclipse will be visible in 15 U.S. states, and also in parts of Mexico and in southeastern Canada. On average, this year's eclipse will last twice as long as 2017's. It will be the longest total solar eclipse on land in over a decade. So this year's solar eclipse is important not to miss, because the next total eclipse will only happen in 9 years, on March 30, 2033, and will only be visible in the far north. Then it will not return to the United States and Canada until August 23, 2044. And there's one more reason to make sure you see the eclipse this year. This year's solar corona will be huge, much larger than in previous eclipses.
The trajectory of the upcoming total solar eclipse looks like an arc, which on the territory of the U.S. will start in Texas and pass through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, as well as the Canadian states of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The width of this path will range from 100 to 123 miles wide in different states. The totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT on April 8, 2024.
You might legitimately ask: Where will the best and longest total eclipse of the sun be visible this year? The moment of greatest duration of the total eclipse will be in Nazas near Durango, Mexico, and the sun will be completely covered by the moon for 4 minutes and 28 seconds. Additionally, Mexico will likely have the most favorable clear weather for viewing the eclipse, unlike some U.S. states that may experience cloudy weather, rain, and even storms. Therefore, if you want to get the most out of this great phenomenon, go to Mexico! In any case and wherever you are, we advise you to check the weather forecast about a week before April 8 and then decide where to watch the eclipse.
In other areas there will be a partial solar eclipse, but it will also be visible. A partial solar eclipse will cover much of North and Central America, and if you're out there, you won't want to miss this celestial spectacle either.
Whether you are in the zone of a total eclipse or just observing a partial eclipse, it is worth knowing the precautions that should be taken when observing the eclipse. Avoid looking directly at the sun. Use sunglasses, or better yet, equip them with a high-quality solar filter that will protect you from radiation. You can also use a welder's mask or goggles.
And if you like this spectacle so much and you really want to see it again, there is a way to do it. You can go to Spain, where a total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026. The next eclipse will occur only in 2061, over Russia and Kazakhstan.