Paul Dorian
This map shows the 20-year (2000-2020) “median cloud fraction” in the month of April at approximately 1:30 pm local time as measured from NASA’s Aqua satellite. The path of totality on April 8, 2024, is shown with red lines marking the northern and southern limits and a blue line up the center. Based on this climatological cloud cover map, Mexico and southern Texas offer the best prospects for a clear view of totality. Data courtesy: NASA.
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Overview
In August of 2017 America went crazy for the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse on US soil since 1918 and it provided a great opportunity for scientists and all sky watchers. What was referred to as “The Great American Solar Eclipse” took place on August 21st, 2017 when the moon passed between the sun and earth. Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every year or so, but generally cast their shadows over oceans or remote land masses. If you missed the 2017 total solar eclipse or it turned out to be cloudy in your particular area then there will be another opportunity in just thirty days from this Friday on Monday, April 8th, 2024. This time the Moon’s dark shadow, about 115 miles wide, will cross Mexico, sweep northeast from Texas to Maine, and then darken the Canadian Maritimes.
Cities inside the totality path for the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse (Courtesy GreatAmericanEclipse.com)
Details
The next total solar eclipse visible on US soil will come on Monday, April 8th, 2024. This one will feature a duration of totality up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds which is almost double that of “The Great American Eclipse” of August 21, 2017. It is estimated that the 2017 total solar eclipse was witnessed by around 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina and the next one is very likely to be viewed by many millions more. The prediction of “many millions more viewers” is quite safe considering the fact that there are 31 million people already living in the totality path which will extend in a southwest-to-northeast fashion from Texas to Maine.
The solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, will be total in a narrow path from Mexico to the Canadian Maritimes and partial to the northwest and southeast. Yellow curves indicate how much of the Sun is covered by the Moon outside the path of totality. The difference between a total solar eclipse and a partial one is literally the difference between night and day, so get yourself into the path of totality if you can. Courtesy GreatAmericanEclipse.com
In the US, totality will begin on April 8th, 2024 at 1:27 (CDT) in Texas and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm (EDT). The narrow path of totality—where the Moon covers the Sun completely, causing a total eclipse – runs through Mexico (from Sinaloa to Coahuila), the US (from Texas to Maine), and Canada (from Ontario to Newfoundland). And if you happen to live in southern Illinois or southeastern Missouri then you will be lucky enough to be in the “totality zone” for the second time when including the 2017 celestial event. A partial eclipse will be visible across nearly all of North America, and a sliver of western Europe.
This animated GIF shows the Moon’s shadow arcing across the Pacific, then traversing North America, and ending at sunset not far from Spain. The longest duration will be near Torreon, Mexico at 4 minutes and 27 seconds. The inner black circle, the umbra, is where the shadow is complete — a total eclipse of the Sun. The outer shadow circle, the penumbra, shows the extent of the partial eclipse. The partial eclipse will be slight near the outer circle and deep near the path of totality.
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun’s bright face — the photosphere — briefly revealing our star’s outer atmosphere: the shimmering corona, or “crown.” The corona is always there, but we usually can’t see it because the photosphere is about a million times brighter and drowns it out. When the Moon covers the Sun’s bright face, the corona is definitely the main attraction, and depending on location, the corona will be visible for up to 4 minutes 28 seconds.
These are the times and durations of the eclipse at several points inside the path of the total solar eclipse.
Made of rarefied gas heated to millions of degrees, with its atoms highly ionized (stripped of electrons), the corona gets sculpted into streamers and loops by the Sun’s powerful magnetic field and shines with a light seen nowhere else. Those who have witnessed it say it is hauntingly beautiful and one of the most awesome sights in all of nature. During those moments of totality, it is safe to look directly at the Sun, even through binoculars or a telescope. But whenever any part of the photosphere is uncovered, it is essential to view the Sun through a safe solar filter, that is, one that meets the transmission requirements of the ISO Spec 12312-2, sometimes labeled as: 12312-2:2015 which is an international safety standard. Such filters are widely available and are not too costly. Looking at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through dark sunglasses or any other unapproved filter is a recipe for serious and potentially permanent eye injury (i.e., do not use regular sunglasses).
The moon covers the sun during a total solar eclipse in Piedra del Aguila, Argentina, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Credit for photo: AP (Natacha Pisarenko)
At the beginning and end of totality, the thin middle layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, the chromosphere, blazes in an arc of ruby red. The sky darkens to a deep twilight blue, with yellow, orange, and pink sunrise/sunset colors on the horizon in all directions. Bright stars and planets may become visible in the darkened sky and the air temperature will often drop noticeably. The dark sky even tricks nocturnal animals into thinking it’s nighttime and you may hear crickets chirping or see birds returning to their nests.
This map of the U.S. shows the totality path of the 2017 solar eclipse combined with the upcoming event in April 2024. Notice there is a small section of the nation that is lucky enough to experience this kind of celestial event in both cases.
Remember…when it comes to solar eclipses…99% is definitely not the same as 100%…getting inside the path of totality is critical as this is the only place the corona can be seen.
One final note… after 2024, the next total solar eclipse to be visible from the United States will be in 2044.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield
arcfieldweather.com
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Addendum.
Anthony and Charles had a spectacular time in 2017 on an expedition to photograph the 2017 eclipse. The feature image at the top of this article was taken by Anthony.
I thought for a second it was a map showing some great circle route from Mexico to New York, and had for meself a nice little giggle.
If you can get to a place where you can see the total eclipse, I recommend it. I saw the last one that went through Oregon, and it was amazing. There’s nothing like seeing a total eclipse.
Assuming the impact theory is correct, then the Earth’s day was about 18 hours and the Moon formed just outside the Roche limit back then. Since then, the Earth’s rotation has decreased and the Moon’s orbital radius has increased–angular momentum is conserved. We now have the Moon’s apparent size equal to the Sun’s. We are living in an amazing time when total eclipses of the Sun by the Moon are possible. Future generations will not be afforded the pleasure of total eclipses.
Yes, there’s absolutely nothing like it…but you must be within the thin band of totality to get the maximum benefit. A 98% totality view is just not the same experience.
Amazing just how much the temperature drops in a few minutes…very dramatic evidence of the effect of the Sun on us and the climate.
I lived in Atlanta when they had an annular eclipse around 30 years ago. I was quite disappointed. Light levels dropped to the equivalent of twilight.
The Georgia Tech physics department was swamped with guests from all over the world, and the roofs of every building on campus were bristling with equipment of various kinds.
This time I won’t need to go anywhere, as I live just east of Indianapolis. I drove south to see the 2017 totality in Kentucky, but this time I hope to watch it with my elderly parents, who inspired my life-long interest in astronomy.
That said, I am also ready to be mobile if needed due to clouds.
not sure how it was where you sent, but mobility was a bit limited for me due to the crowds
I made my way to Russellville KY. The only quick-serve restaurant was overwhelmed, but we got there early enough to find a good place to park at a liquor store.
“. . . inspired my life-long interest in astronomy.”
All I can say is “Me also!”
I’ve seen a couple. For one, I was sitting, reading a book, and it actually took me by surprise, got darker and harder to read, all the birds got quiet. Don’t remember the coolness now, but it was pretty interesting.
I too have seen a couple.
“The dark sky even tricks nocturnal animals into thinking it’s nighttime ”
First one was in college, and can add that Dogs and college aged men begin howling also.
During the total eclipse I was observing, the crickets in a nearby bush started to chirp.
And birds go silent.
We’ve been planning for this for close to a year. Neither my wife nor I have ever been in the direct path and have never seen one, so this is probably our last chance.
My vacation time is approved. We’ve got our eclipse glasses ready to go. I’m picking up the camper from our remote mountain hideout next weekend to get it packed and ready for the trip. We’ve had our reservations at the campground in the path for over 6 months. We’ve got friends that live in the area that are going to meet us there. We’re really excited about it.
Which means, of course, that it’s going to be cloudy and we won’t see a thing.
That’s just the way my life goes. Sorry to anyone else who’s going to be near us and was hoping to see it. My bad.
I tried to take a photo of the total eclipse with my phone. It was a complete waste. You need a good camera with appropriate filters. I don’t know the particulars, but camera aficionados would.
Jim, you may need to send some pictures to Sailorcurt.
Will these do? They are from our hosts trip in August of 2017.
Live north of San Antonio. Looking forward to experiencing a total eclipse. Eclipse glasses already purchased!
Technically, we’re in Earth’s umbral shadow every night. I know, with the moon it’s different, you can see the sun’s corona, if you have all of the right equipment and it isn’t cloudy. Meh.
April 9 5:10 PM…White Sox at Cleveland 5:10 PM
Last Comment is wrong April 8 5:10 PM is White Sox at Cleveland
The eclipse will be at about 3:15 p.m. in Cleveland. The start time of the game, which is the home opener, was pushed back to 5:10 because of the eclipse. I’ll wager that the tickets have a pretty price on the secondary market.
I booked my hotel in a town dead-center on the path a year ago. At the time I was only able to find one room available and bookings were so limited it required pre-payment.
If you have to travel and haven’t made arrangements yet, take a camper or a tent!
I just paid $1400 to air b&b a house in Indianapois for a 30% chance of seeing the eclipse. At least I will get to see my grandchildren (ages 7, 5, 4, 2, & 2 mos.) who are coming down from Chicago, so it won’t be a total washout. 2017 was a thunderstorm but it didn’t cost as much because my Brother lives in Kansas City.
I will pray for good weather. A total eclipse is one of the most spectacular shows that nature can put on.
In 1972, I drove my clapped out 1965 Chevrolet Malibu 1500 mi to Nova Scotia to see total eclipse, and it was worth it. That was the same eclipse that Carly Simon commemorated in “You’re So Vain” “You flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun.” I saw the eclipse, I saw neither Warren Beatty nor Carly Simon.
BTW: If I had Learjet money, I would plan to be in Fredericksburg Texas which is much less likely to be cloudy than Indianapolis. But, I don’t, so I won’t.
The story goes like this. Mick Jagger happened to drop by the studio in London when Carly Simon was making the record. She just casually invited him to sing backup vocals on the track.
I’ll be interested to see what effect the penumbra has on the solar power being produced in California.
https://www.caiso.com/TodaysOutlook/Pages/supply.html
The second graph from the top of the page shows “Renewables”.
Caught the 2017 one. Was driving up from Laredo and arrived just south of Marion, IL at the right time. Pulled the big truck off on the shoulder of an exit ramp and pulled out my #14 welding lens and watched it all!
Now nI’m retired and this time my abode is right in the zone of totality. To get right in the center of the zone for the longest view I will drive 14 miles to near New Castle, IN. That is, if we have clear skies. And that is a BIG IF! “April Showers Bring May Flowers” you know.
BTW, if someone can find a map that gives greater detail and zoom capability to really provide very accurate info of the location of the zone, I’m sure some readers here would appreciate it. The one I found and upon which I based my plan was in an online article and I didn’t save it.
If the skies are clear, this will be the third total I have observed. Every one of them I have observed through a welding helmet lens.