On Monday, more than 31 million people will experience a total solar eclipse, a celestial phenomenon where the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, leading to moments of total darkness for those in the eclipse's path of totality.
Here is a live stream from NASA:
Here's what to expect during Monday's planetary event:
What time is the solar eclipse 2024?
Monday's Total Solar Eclipse it will start at 11:07 a.m. PDT in Mexico (that's 2:07 p.m. EST) and then cross over to Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT (2:27 p.m. EST) before ending up in the continental US in Maine at approximately 3 :35 pm EST before crossing over to Canada. The eclipse is set to leave North America at 5:16 PM NDT (3:46 PM EST) via New Foundland, Canada.
The eclipse will peak at different times depending on where you are in the US
NASA created an interactive map where you can see what time the eclipse is expected to peak in your area and how dark it is expected to be, depending on the weather.
Where can I see the total solar eclipse?
The path of totality is about 115 miles wide and stretches from west to east, passing through 13 states.
US cities where the eclipse is expected to peak and reach total darkness are Dallas, Texas: Idabel, Oklahoma: Little Rock, Arkansas: Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Paducah, Kentucky: Carbondale, Illinois: Evansville, Indiana: Cleveland, Ohio: Erie , Pennsylvania: Buffalo, New York: Burlington, Vermont: Lancaster, New Hampshire and Caribou, Maine.
A partial solar eclipse is expected to be visible in 49 US states (weather permitting), although the total solar eclipse will have a path of totality that will only be visible in 10 US states and parts of Mexico and Canada.
How can I watch the solar eclipse?
Due to the dangerous nature of the eclipse, you should avoid looking directly at the sky during the eclipse – regular sunglasses won't do either.
Instead, viewers should use eclipse glasses certified in accordance with ISO 12312-2 to view the sky during partial eclipses. It is considered safe to view the sky without protection only during the brief moments of total eclipse when the moon covers the sun.
Failure to wear proper eye protection can result in blindness or partial vision loss.
According to The Planetary Societysolar eclipse glasses use special lenses made from carbon-infused black polymer, which are approximately 100,000 times darker than normal sunglasses, blocking almost all visible light, including infrared and ultraviolet light .
To make sure your glasses are legit, only consider buying them from a seller who has been approved through American Astronomical Society (AAS), which tests, approves and certifies hundreds of vendors to ensure their quality.
When is the next solar eclipse after Monday, April 8?
of other visible The total solar eclipse will occur on August 23, 2044. This eclipse is expected to be visible only in three US states (Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota) and will be mostly visible in Canada.