For the second time in just seven years, a total solar eclipse is going to sweep across a large portion of the United States on Monday, April 8, 2024. If you witnessed the last one, in 2017, then you know what a special event this is, and, like many others, you might even be making travel plans to get inside the zone of totality. Perhaps you’re one of the fortunate ones living within the zone, or maybe you’re satisfied with just viewing a partial eclipse, as can be seen from the entire continental U.S. (to a greater or lesser degree).
Whichever group you fall into, if you want to view and appreciate the event in any capacity at all, a bit of planning ahead will be in order. At the very least, you will want to be aware of the times at which the eclipse will begin and end at your planned viewing location. And you will also want to be sure to have some protective eye-wear made especially for looking directly at the sun safely. (Don’t look directly at the sun without them, even for a brief moment, and even if the sun is partly or mostly obscured by the moon – only during the time of totality, when the moon is completely blocking the light from the sun, is it safe to view without protective glasses.)
Don’t miss the opportunity! It will be at least another 20 years before any portion of the continental U.S. will get to experience a total solar eclipse.
Following are a list of resources to help you plan for this uniquely memorable event:
NASA.com – 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
What To Look For During the Eclipse (2017)
What happens if it’s cloudy during the eclipse?
Common mistakes made by first-time eclipse chasers.
