To prepare you for the Great North American Solar Eclipse, weve put together this handy pocket guide.
Gonna date myself here, but I vividly remember thetotal solar eclipse of February 26, 1979.
For North Americans, nothing will compare until thetotal solar eclipse of 2045, and for Canadiansnot until 2079.
Illustration: Gizmodo/Vicky Leta
When and where is the eclipse happening?
Mark Monday, April 8, 2024, in your calendar.
The NASA table above offers timeframes for select U.S. locations.
The path of totality will stretch from Texas up to Maine.Image: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
Totality, lasting for two minutes, will occur between 3:30 p.m. and 3:32 p.m.
The entire event will conclude by 4:32 p.m., spanning a total duration of 148 minutes.
ET
Belleville, ON: 3:21 p.m.
This map shows the path of totality, and also the degree to which partial eclipses will be visible in outlying areas (as indicated along the right and left hand sides).Graphic: Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com
ET
Montreal, QC: 3:26 p.m.
Indeed, areas outside the path should still expect to see a dazzling display, so dont be discouraged.
Whats going to happen?
Graphic: NASA
Simply, the Moon is going to pass in front of the Sun from our perspective on Earths surface.
Within the path of totality, itll result in the complete but temporary obscuration of the Sun.
During totality, the sky will be discernibly darkened; itll feel as though its dawn or dusk.
Artistic depiction of the upcoming eclipse.Image: Canadian Space Agency
outer atmosphere) along the outer perimeter of the blackened disc.
If youre lucky, you may witness a phenomenon known as Bailys Beads.
Bailys Beads are brought on by sunlight shining through the rugged lunar terrains valleys and mountains.
Map showing the path of totality for the 2017 and 2024 total solar eclipse.Image: NASA Visualization Studio
NASA has abunch of citizen science projectsrelated to the eclipse, and the Sun in general.
Another fun fact about this eclipse is how itllcoincide with another celestial event: the appearance of comet12P/Pons-Brooks.
It could result in retinal burns, a condition otherwise known assolar retinopathy.
Symptoms like vision loss, distortion, or color changes may emerge hours later.
Retinal damage, which can be temporary or permanent, can occur within seconds of Sun exposure.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
