It’s not too early to make reservations for locations to remain close to the path of totality, for the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. After this occasion, we gained’t have one other total solar eclipse seen from the contiguous U.S. till August 23, 2044! The eclipse path will sweep throughout North America, Mexico and jap Canada. A partial solar eclipse might be seen over North and Central America.
Total solar eclipse
Partial eclipse begins: at 15:42 UTC (11:42 a.m. EDT) on April 8.
Total eclipse begins: at 16:38 UTC (12:38 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Greatest eclipse: at 18:17 UTC (2:17 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Total eclipse ends: at 19:55 UTC (3:55 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Partial eclipse ends: at 20:52 UTC (4:52 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Note: The prompt of greatest eclipse – when the axis of the moon’s shadow cone passes closest to Earth’s middle – takes place at 18:17 UTC (2:17 p.m. EDT). It’s a comparatively lengthy total eclipse with a length of totality lasting 4.47 minutes.
Remember that the primary rule for solar eclipse observing is to be sure to shield your eyes by utilizing an applicable filter.
Don’t miss the nice eclipse maps beneath.
![Animation showing moon's shadow moving across the Earth.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/02/Total-solar-eclipse-Apr8-2024-animation-2.gif)
Moon, constellation, saros
Greatest eclipse takes place one day after the moon reaches perigee, its closest level to Earth for the month. During the April 8, 2024, eclipse, the sun is situated within the path of the constellation Aries.
This eclipse has a magnitude of 1.0566.
The Saros catalog describes the periodicity of eclipses. The eclipse belongs to Saros 139. It is quantity 30 of 71 eclipses within the sequence. All eclipses on this sequence happen on the moon’s ascending node. The moon strikes southward with respect to the node with every succeeding eclipse within the sequence.
Cities the place the total solar eclipse is seen
![List of cities.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2022/04/Cities-solar-eclipse-Apr8-2022.jpg)
Next eclipse and eclipse seasons
The total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, is preceded two weeks earlier by a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 24, 2024.
These eclipses all happen throughout a single eclipse season.
An eclipse season is an approximate 35-day interval throughout which it’s inevitable for not less than two (and presumably three) eclipses to happen. The subsequent eclipse season has two eclipses: October 2 and October 17, 2024.
Maps and information
Find maps and eclipse timings beneath. Remember to convert UTC to your time.
![Total solar eclipse: Map of America with lines crossing all North America, from southwest to northeast.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2022/04/SE2024-04-08T.gif)
• Timeanddate.com: to get the precise timing of the eclipse out of your location.
• Orthographic Map: detailed world map of eclipse visibility.
• Google Map: interactive map of the eclipse path.
• Path Table: coordinates of the central line and path limits.
• Circumstances Table: eclipse instances for lots of of cities.
• Saros 139 Table: information for all eclipses within the Saros sequence.
• Additional Tables and Data.
Here is what a total solar eclipse seems to be like
![A black circle with light radiating from behind it and bright spots near the top.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2021/12/total-solar-eclipse-dec4-2021-NASA-live-stream.png)
Eclipse maps from Great American Eclipse
Michael Zeiler of GreatAmericanEclipse.com has generously given us permission to share his eclipse maps for the total solar eclipse. Here you may get a greater thought of the place you’ll wish to be and when to see this distinctive phenomenon.
![Map showing section of the globe over the U.S. and lines showing the percent of the sun that will be hidden by the moon.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/2024_April_08_path-of-solar-eclipse-Great-American-Eclipse-e1678888436495.jpg)
![Map of the U.S. showing the path of the total solar eclipse plus the percentage of sun obscured outside the path of totality.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/total-solar-eclipse-map-apr-8-2024_NorthAmerica-Great-American-Eclipse-scaled-e1678889233630.jpg)
![Map of U.S. showing path of total eclipse and names of cities inside the path.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/Major-cities-in-path-of-total-solar-eclipse-Apr-8-2024-Great-American-Eclipse-scaled-e1678891022365.jpg)
Which location is closest to you?
![Map of the US with highways in color showing quickest route to the total solar eclipse.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/Shortest-drives-to-eclipse-April-8-2024-Great-AMerican-Eclipse.jpg)
Maps for the timing of the eclipse
![Map of the U.S. showing the track of the total solar eclipse with duration times embedded in the path.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/Apr-8-2024-eclipse-map-with-times-United-States-Great-American-Eclipse-e1678889469559.jpg)
![Map of the U.S. with curved lines labeled with times of when the partial phase begins.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/total-solar-ecipse-april-8-2024-UnitedStates_Begin_of_Eclipse-Great-American-Eclipse-scaled-e1678889692306.jpg)
![Map of the U.S. showing the path of the total eclipse with lines labeled with times of greatest eclipse.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/total-solar-eclipse_UnitedStates_Times_of_Great_Eclipse-Great-American-Eclipse-scaled-e1678890901958.jpg)
How lengthy will the eclipse final?
![Map of the U.S. showing the path of the total eclipse with more yellow representing longer totality near Mexico.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/total-solar-eclipse-Apr-8-2024_UnitedStates_Duration_and_Partial_Eclipse-Great-American-Eclipse-scaled-e1678889784392.jpg)
![Map of the U.S. showing path of totality and times in minutes and seconds for locations along the path.](https://earthsky.org/upl/2023/03/total-solar-eclipse-2024_UnitedStates_Maximum_Duration-Great-American-Eclipse-scaled-e1678890494599.jpg)
Bottom line: A total solar eclipse will darken skies on April 8, 2024. Areas of North America, Mexico and jap Canada will get to view this awe-inspiring occasion