2024 Total Solar Eclipse: A Quick Guide for Last-Minute Planners

April 8 will be a significant day for those in North America, with a total solar eclipse taking place. The moon will be positioned between the sun and Earth during the day, causing the sun to be obscured from our view. This event will result in up to 4.5 minutes of daytime darkness for those in the direct path of totality, a duration close to two minutes longer than the 2017 Great American Eclipse. Even those not directly in the totality path will be able to experience a partial eclipse for a short time depending on their exact location.

Here are some key details about this astronomical phenomenon.

The sun’s shadow is expected to enter North America via the west coast of Mexico at around 12 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The totality then moves diagonally across the continental United States, passing over Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, and Maine. It will finally traverse into Canada through Ontario and Quebec, before exiting through Newfoundland and Labrador around 5:15 p.m. Newfoundland Daylight Time.

Refer to NASA's interactive map for detailed information about the eclipse viewing in your area including local weather and timing.

Attention should be paid to protective eyewear. Regular sunglasses do not provide enough protection against solar radiation. Special eclipse glasses should be obtained if not already in possession.

If ordering a pair online is not an option or there are concerns over counterfeit glasses being sold on the internet, there are a few other options such as large retail stores like Lowe's Home Improvement. Local libraries, museums or Warby Parker retail stores may also be distributing free eclipse glasses.

If you cannot obtain eclipse glasses, there are other ways to observe the eclipse. An object with small holes such as a colander can be used to project the eclipse onto a flat surface. Your own pinhole camera is also an option if you're feeling adventurous.

Online livestreams such as those from the U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA are available for virtual viewing. NASA even plans to broadcast three rocket launches during the eclipse to study effects on Earth's upper atmosphere. Other projects like the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project will also provide live streams.

Unusual color shifts may be observed during the eclipse with blues and greens becoming more intense while reds may darken. Large gas emissions or petal-like streams may also become visible from the solar surface.

Science News Explores and our publisher Society for Science have assembled resources for further reading about the eclipse.

Remember to only use a solar filter or an extra pair of eclipse glasses in front of your smartphone's lens for photographing the partial eclipse and to take it off during the totality. Also, ensure to disable the camera's flash. Space.com provides an easy-to-follow guide for photographing the eclipse.

There are also opportunities to contribute to research through applications like SunSketcher or by becoming a data analyst for the Eclipse Soundscapes Project.

There will not be a total eclipse in the United States and Canada for another 20 years. But if you’re up for travel, other countries will experience totality before 2044 (SN: 4/4/24) . For example, Spain will be on the path of totality in 2026 and 2027, China and Japan in 2035, and Australia in 2028, 2030, 2037 and 2038.

And stay tuned for coverage from our astronomy writer Adam Mann, who will be on-site near Dallas with some scientists studying — and experiencing the wonder — of this total solar eclipse.