2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Overview
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. People viewing the eclipse from locations where the Moon’s shadow completely covers the Sun – known as the path of totality – will experience a total solar eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk. Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the Sun.
Learn more about this total solar eclipse: solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024
2024 Total Solar Eclipse Path
The April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean and will cross North America, passing over Mexico, United States, and Canada. Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.
The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.
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Flying Around The 2024 Eclipse Shadow
The virtual camera flies from the night side of the Earth and Moon to the day side, revealing the path of the Moon's shadow during the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. Includes narration by the visualizer.Music provided by Universal Production Music: “ Bright Determination” – Julien VonarbThis video can also be viewed on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel. || flyaround.0900.n_print.jpg (1024x576) [196.9 KB] || eclipse24_flyaround_narrated.mp4 (1920x1080) [85.2 MB] || eclipse24_flyaround_narrated_prores.mov (1920x1080) [626.7 MB] || eclipse24_flyaround_narrated.webm (1920x1080) [6.2 MB] || eclipse24_flyaround_captions.en-US.en_US.srt [1.2 KB] || eclipse24_flyaround_captions.en-US.en_US.vtt [1.1 KB] ||
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The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
The path of totality and partial contours crossing the U.S. for the 2024 total solar eclipse occurring on April 8, 2024. || eclipse_map_2024_QR_1920.png (1920x960) [3.4 MB] || eclipse_map_2024_QR.png (22500x11250) [128.8 MB] || eclipse_map_2024_QR_10800.png (10800x5400) [77.1 MB] || eclipse_map_2024_QR_5400.png (5400x2700) [23.0 MB] || eclipse_map_2024_QR_1920_searchweb.png (320x180) [111.9 KB] || eclipse_map_2024_QR_1920_thm.png (80x40) [7.2 KB] ||
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2023 Eclipse Explorer: An interactive guide to the 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse
|| An embedded version of the 2023 Eclipse Explorer. The standalone version is available at https://go.nasa.gov/EclipseExplorer. || eclipse_explorer_screenshot_print.jpg (1024x661) [170.8 KB] || eclipse_explorer_screenshot.png (3456x2234) [6.1 MB] || eclipse_explorer_screenshot_searchweb.png (320x180) [73.4 KB] || eclipse_explorer_screenshot_thm.png (80x40) [8.9 KB] ||
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The 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses: Map and Data
The map was updated on March 15, 2023, to correct times in Mexico along the total eclipse path. ||
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A Tour of NASA’s Solar Eclipse Map for 2023 and 2024
The map was updated on March 15, 2023, to correct times in Mexico along the total eclipse path.Two solar eclipses will cross the United States in 2023 and 2024. On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will create a “ring of fire” in the sky from Oregon to Texas. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies from Texas to Maine. On both dates, all 48 contiguous states in the U.S. will experience a partial solar eclipse. ||
Total Solar Eclipse Animations
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Eclipse Animation Elements
Due to their relative scale and distances, the disks of the Sun and the Moon appear to be almost the same size in the sky when standing on Earth. This means that even though the Moon is much smaller than the Sun, it can block most or all of the Sun's light, resulting in a dark shadow over Earth called a solar eclipse.These videos are designed to help describe some of the dynamics that determine how solar eclipses work and why they are important for those of us living on Earth. ||
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Solar Eclipse Animation
Solar Eclipse Animation || Solar_eclipseHD_00840_print.jpg (1024x576) [42.6 KB] || Solar_eclipseHD_00840_searchweb.png (320x180) [45.3 KB] || Solar_eclipseHD_00840_thm.png (80x40) [4.5 KB] || Solar_eclipse_prores.mov (1920x1080) [1.0 GB] || Solar_eclipse_h264.mov (1920x1080) [1.0 GB] || Solar_eclipse4K_h264.mov (2000x2000) [316.9 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_60p/ (1920x1080) [128.0 KB] || Solar_eclipseHD.mp4 (1920x1080) [4.5 MB] || Solar_eclipse_prores.webm (1920x1080) [3.3 MB] || Solar_eclipse4K_prores.mov (3840x2160) [3.7 GB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_60p/ (3840x2160) [128.0 KB] || Solar_eclipse4K_prores_30fps.mp4 (3840x2160) [11.8 MB] || eclipse.en_US.srt [372 bytes] || eclipse.en_US.vtt [386 bytes] ||
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What determines when we have an eclipse?
Music: Witch Waltz by Dorian KellyComplete transcript available.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel. || EclipsePlane_V7.00001_print.jpg (1024x576) [79.6 KB] || EclipsePlane_V7.00001_searchweb.png (320x180) [62.0 KB] || EclipsePlane_V7.00001_thm.png (80x40) [3.8 KB] || EclipsePlane_V7.mov (1920x1080) [1.6 GB] || EclipsePlane_V7.mp4 (1920x1080) [63.0 MB] || EclipsePlane_V7_1.mp4 (1920x1080) [91.4 MB] || EclipsePlane_V7.webm (1920x1080) [5.7 MB] || EclipsePlane_V7.en_US.srt [499 bytes] || EclipsePlane_V7.en_US.vtt [511 bytes] ||
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2017 Eclipse: Earth, Moon and Sun
The Moon moves right to left in its orbit around the Earth. The shadow it casts hits the Earth during the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. || sun_earth.0240_print.jpg (1024x576) [41.2 KB] || sun_earth.0240_searchweb.png (320x180) [37.9 KB] || sun_earth.0240_thm.png (80x40) [3.9 KB] || eclipse2017sunearth_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [3.6 MB] || eclipse2017sunearth_720p30.mp4 (1280x720) [1.6 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [32.0 KB] || eclipse2017sunearth_720p30.webm (1280x720) [2.7 MB] || eclipse2017sunearth_360p30.mp4 (640x360) [514.7 KB] ||
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2017 Eclipse and the Moon's Orbit
The Moon orbits the Earth in the months prior to the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. Viewed from above, the Moon's shadow appears to cross the Earth every month, but a side view reveals the five-degree tilt of the Moon's orbit. Its shadow only hits the Earth when the line of nodes, the fulcrum of its orbital tilt, is pointed toward the Sun. || orbit.0350_print.jpg (1024x576) [37.8 KB] || orbit.0350_searchweb.png (320x180) [37.6 KB] || orbit.0350_thm.png (80x40) [4.1 KB] || eclipse_orbit_720p30.webm (1280x720) [3.3 MB] || eclipse_orbit_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [3.6 MB] || eclipse_orbit_720p30.mp4 (1280x720) [1.8 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/orbit/ (1920x1080) [32.0 KB] || eclipse_orbit_1080p30.mov (1920x1080) [391.1 MB] || eclipse_orbit_360p30.mp4 (640x360) [662.1 KB] ||
Total Solar Eclipse Safety
Safety is the number one priority when viewing a total solar eclipse. Be sure you're familiar with when you need to wear specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing by reviewing these safety guidelines.
Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. You can also use an indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector.
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Eclipse Safety Imagery 2023
It is never safe to look directly at the Sun – even if the Sun is partially obscured. When watching a partial solar eclipse, you must wear eclipse glasses at all times when looking at the Sun, or use an indirect viewing method. This also applies during a total solar eclipse up until the moment when the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon.During the short time when the Moon completely obscures the Sun – known as the period of totality – it is safe to look directly at the star without eye protection. However, it’s crucial that you know when it’s safe to both remove and put back on your safe solar viewing glasses.To learn more about eclipses visit: science.nasa.gov/eclipses. ||
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Eclipse Safety B-Roll 2023
It is never safe to look directly at the Sun – even if the Sun is partially obscured. When watching a partial solar eclipse, you must wear eclipse glasses at all times when looking at the Sun, or use an indirect viewing method. This also applies during a total solar eclipse up until the moment when the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon.During the short time when the Moon completely obscures the Sun – known as the period of totality – it is safe to look directly at the star without eye protection. However, it’s crucial that you know when it’s safe to both remove and put back on your safe solar viewing glasses.To learn more about eclipses visit: science.nasa.gov/eclipses. ||
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How to Make a Box Pinhole Projector
Want to view a solar eclipse but don’t have eclipse glasses? No problem! An easy way to safely view a solar eclipse is with a box pinhole projector. With a few simple supplies, you can create a safe and fun way to experience the magic of an eclipse from anywhere. Watch this how-to video to see just how easy it is! ||
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Find Out if Your Eclipse Glasses Are Safe
How can you tell if your eclipse glasses are safe? With the annular solar eclipse just around on the corner on Oct. 14, 2023, here is a quick and easy way to make sure your eclipse glasses are safe to use.When watching an annular eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses – no matter how dark, sunglasses are not safe for viewing the Sun.To learn more about eclipse safety, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/EclipseEyeSafety ||
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Eclipse Watching B-Roll At NASA Goddard
B-roll for August 21st Eclipse, filmed at NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center's mall and visitor center. || GSFC_ECLIPSE2017BROLL_TW@N_Handleman.06600_print.jpg (1024x576) [177.8 KB] || GSFC_ECLIPSE2017BROLL_TW@N_Handleman.06600_searchweb.png (320x180) [115.7 KB] || GSFC_ECLIPSE2017BROLL_TW@N_Handleman.06600_thm.png (80x40) [7.9 KB] || GSFC_ECLIPSE2017BROLL_TW@N_Handleman.mov (1280x720) [3.2 GB] || GSFC_ECLIPSE2017BROLL_TW@N_Handleman.mp4 (1280x720) [266.8 MB] || GSFC_ECLIPSE2017BROLL_TW@N_Handleman.webm (1280x720) [30.1 MB] ||
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Solar Eclipse Safety Images
People watch a partial eclipse in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Mar. 20, 2015. Credit: Robin Cordiner || RobinCordiner.jpg (926x618) [118.5 KB] || RobinCordinerlg_print.jpg (1024x683) [681.3 KB] || RobinCordinerlg.jpg (7065x4715) [22.0 MB] || RobinCordinerlg_searchweb.png (320x180) [98.8 KB] || RobinCordinerlg_web.png (320x213) [114.5 KB] || RobinCordinerlg_thm.png (80x40) [6.7 KB] ||
Heliophysics Big Year
On Oct. 14, 2023, NASA launched the Heliophysics Big Year – a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth and the entire solar system. Modeled after the “Big Year” concept from citizen scientists in the bird-watching community, the Heliophysics Big Year challenges everyone to get involved with fun Sun-related activities.
For each month from October 2023 to December 2024, the Heliophysics Big Year will celebrate under a theme, sharing opportunities to participate in many solar science events from watching eclipses to joining citizen science projects. During the Heliophysics Big Year, participation isn’t limited to science – NASA invites everyone to celebrate the Sun with activities including dance, fashion, sustainability, and more.
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Heliophysics Big Year Trailer
In October 2023, NASA is launching the Heliophysics Big Year – a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Modeled after the “Big Year” concept from citizen scientists in the bird-watching community, the Heliophysics Big Year challenges everyone to get involved with fun Sun-related activities.Visit go.nasa.gov/HelioBigYear to learn more! ||
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Introducing the Heliophysics Big Year
In October 2023, NASA is launching the Heliophysics Big Year – a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Modeled after the “Big Year” concept from citizen scientists in the bird-watching community, the Heliophysics Big Year challenges everyone to get involved with Sun-related activities. The Heliophysics Big Year begins in October 2023 and runs through December 2024. ||
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The Heliophysics Big Year
The Heliophysics Big Year is a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth and the entire solar system.During the Heliophysics Big Year, you will have the opportunity to participate in many solar science events such as watching solar eclipses, experiencing an aurora, participating in citizen science projects, and other fun Sun-related activities.Join us from October 2023 to December 2024!go.nasa.gov/HelioBigYear ||
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Heliophysics Big Year Graphic Elements
The Heliophysics Big Year is a NASA-led public engagement campaign designed to promote heliophysics broadly, make heliophysics science and information accessible to all, and showcase ongoing efforts to understand the Sun and all that it touches. We are challenging the public to participate in as many Sun science activities as possible from October 2023 to December 2024, leading up to and around solar maximum.This page contains graphic elements for use in promotion and support of the Heliophysics Big Year. Anyone supporting the Heliophysics Big Year effort may use these resources in accordance with the guidance listed in the captions. ||
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Sunday Experiment Featuring Heliophysics
On Sunday, May 21, 2023, the Goddard Visitor Center featured heliophysics - the study of the Sun and its effects across the solar system - as part of the Sunday Experiment series. Activities included solar viewing using Sunspotters, Solarscopes, and solar glasses. Make your own Ultraviolet bead bracelet and Sun art. Attendees enjoyed disscussions and a question-and-answer session with heliophysics subject matter experts as well as eclipse videos playing on a loop throughout the day. ||
Citizen Science
NASA’s citizen science projects are collaborations between scientists and interested members of the public. Through these collaborations, volunteers (known as citizen scientists) have helped make thousands of important scientific discoveries. Several citizen science projects are participating in the 2024 total solar eclipse.
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Study Total Solar Eclipses With Ham Radio
Music credit: “Make a Change” by Eric Chevalier [SACEM] from Universal Production Music.Complete transcript available. || HAMSCI_thumb.png (1280x720) [2.0 MB] || HAMSCI_thumb_print.jpg (1024x576) [281.9 KB] || HAMSCI_thumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [133.0 KB] || HAMSCI_thumb_thm.png (80x40) [8.5 KB] || HamSCI_Video_2024.mp4 (1920x1080) [194.9 MB] || HamSCI_Video_2024.webm (1920x1080) [12.0 MB] || HAMSCI.en_US.srt [2.2 KB] || HAMSCI.en_US.vtt [2.1 KB] ||
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Capturing the Sounds of a Solar Eclipse
In April 2024, volunteers can join the Eclipse Soundscapes project to help NASA scientists better understand how wildlife is impacted by solar eclipses. Volunteers will gather sound recordings, make observations using any of their senses, and even help with data analysis from across the path of the eclipse. This video features interviews from Eclipse Soundscapes experts MaryKay Severino, Dr. William “Trae” Winter III, and Dr. William Oestreich, and highlights natural resource manager Dr. Chace Holzhueser at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, who will be conducting a similar study for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.Visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/citizen-science/ to learn more! ||
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Study Eclipses With NASA
Solar eclipses are awe-inspiring experiences – but did you know you can help NASA study them? Many NASA discoveries are achieved with help from volunteer scientists like you! Here are some of the citizen science projects kicking off for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.Visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/citizen-science/ to learn more! ||
Eclipses Seen By Satellites
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50 years after Blue Marble
50 years ago, on December 7, 1972, an astronaut looked out the window of the Apollo 17 spacecraft and snapped a photo that would become a symbol of Earth as our precious, fragile home. The image, centered at about 40 E longitude, shows Earth at local noon near the winter solstice. Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, and Antarctica are visible under swirling clouds.Now, since 2015, NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) onboard NOAA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite has been imaging the sunlit side of Earth between 13 and 22 times a day from the Lagrange point 1, a million miles away from Earth. These images from EPIC show nearly identical views. The first, from Dec 7, 2022, was acquired on the 50-year anniversary of the iconic Blue Marble photo. The second, from summer solstice 2022, this image is centered further north than the original and shows Europe and Arctic sea ice. The third image, taken on December 4, 2021, nearly 49 years after the Blue Marble includes a new bonus feature: 2021’s only total solar eclipse. ||
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An EPIC View of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) tracked the path of the total solar eclipse across North America on Aug. 21, 2017. On board NOAA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), EPIC collected these natural color images. Scientists set the instrument to gather images more frequently than usual to study this eclipse.Learn more about how EPIC contributed to research conducted during the 2017 total solar eclipse. ||
Previous Total Solar Eclipse Imagery
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NASA Eclipse Imagery
As millions of people across the United States experienced a total eclipse as the umbra, or Moon’s shadow passed over them, only six people witnessed the umbra from space. Viewing the eclipse from orbit were NASA’s Randy Bresnik, Jack Fischer and Peggy Whitson, ESA (European Space Agency’s) Paolo Nespoli, and Roscosmos’ Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Sergey Ryazanskiy. The space station crossed the path of the eclipse three times as it orbited above the continental United States at an altitude of 250 miles. Credit: NASA || iss052e056122.jpg (4928x3280) [844.0 KB] ||
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2017 Eclipse Image Collection
This image is a composite photograph that shows the progression of the total solar eclipse over Madras, Oregon.http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=90796 || eclipsecomposite_pho_lrg.jpg (2231x1487) [541.4 KB] || eclipsecomposite_pho_lrg_searchweb.png (320x180) [47.2 KB] || eclipsecomposite_pho_lrg_thm.png (80x40) [3.3 KB] ||
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Eclipse Imagery Along Path of Totality
Carbondale, IL - The Eclipse Ballooning Project inflating high altitude balloons in Saluki Stadium during the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse. Credit: NASA/Joy Ng || Balloons2_JoyNg_print.jpg (1024x682) [877.1 KB] || Balloons2_JoyNg.jpg (5760x3840) [9.8 MB] || Balloons_JoyNg.jpg (5760x3840) [13.4 MB] || Balloons2_JoyNg_searchweb.png (320x180) [122.4 KB] || Balloons2_JoyNg_web.png (320x213) [144.1 KB] || Balloons2_JoyNg_thm.png (80x40) [8.2 KB] ||