Witness the Spectacle: Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America in 2024
A total solar eclipse will occur in North America on Monday, creating a highly anticipated celestial spectacle. Weather permitting, Mexico, 15 US states, and parts of eastern Canada will have the opportunity to witness the moon passing between the Earth and the sun, causing a temporary blockage of sunlight.
The total solar eclipse will traverse a “total path” that spans over 100 miles and extends across the continent. Within this path, the Moon will completely obscure the Sun, resulting in a brief darkening of the afternoon sky.
In other regions of the continental United States, a partial solar eclipse will be visible as the Moon appears to take a bite out of the Sun. The extent of the partial eclipse depends on the specific location.
When and Where to See the Total Eclipse in the US
The initial location in North America to experience a total eclipse on Monday will be along the Pacific coast of Mexico around 11:07 a.m. PT, as reported by NASA.
After crossing Mexico in a northeast direction, the eclipse’s path will traverse through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. There is also a chance for portions of Michigan and Tennessee to witness the total eclipse if weather conditions are favorable.
In Canada, the eclipse will be visible in certain areas of southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton, which is located on the eastern end of Nova Scotia.
The timing and duration of the eclipse’s totality vary depending on the location. Most places will experience approximately two minutes of darkness, with the longest periods of totality typically occurring in the middle of the eclipse’s path.
This year, the longest period of totality will last for 4 minutes and 28 seconds in northwest Torreon, Mexico.
Timing the Eclipse: From Mexico’s Pacific Coast to Eastern Canada
Below is a list of dates and times for some American cities located along the path of the total eclipse, as provided by NASA:
- Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 1:40 p.m. CT.
- Idabel, Oklahoma: Partial eclipse begins at 12:28 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 1:45 p.m. CT.
- Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 1:51 p.m. CT.
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Partial eclipse begins at 12:39 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 1:56 p.m. CT.
- Paducah, Kentucky: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 2:00 p.m. CT.
- Carbondale, Illinois: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 1:59 p.m. CT.
- Evansville, Indiana: Partial eclipse begins at 12:45 p.m. CT and reaches totality at 2:02 p.m. CT.
- Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and reaches totality at 3:13 p.m. ET.
- Erie, Pennsylvania: Partial eclipse begins at 2:02 p.m. ET and reaches totality at 3:16 p.m. ET.
- Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and reaches totality at 3:18 p.m. ET.
- Burlington, Vermont: Partial eclipse begins at 2:14 p.m. ET and reaches totality at 3:26 p.m. ET.
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and reaches totality at 3:27 p.m. ET.
- Caribou, Maine: Partial eclipse begins at 2:22 p.m. ET and reaches totality at 3:32 p.m. ET.
Resources for Further Exploration
Additional resources, such as NationalEclipse.com and TimeandDate.com, can provide more information about the visibility of different eclipse phases in your specific location.
If you plan on observing this celestial event, always remember that it is unsafe to directly look at the sun, whether with the naked eye, binoculars, telescopes, or camera lenses. To safely view a solar eclipse and protect your eyes from permanent damage, special eclipse glasses are required.
