Where can I watch the 2024 Eclipse?

The 2 Great American Eclipses

Experience nature’s greatest sight — a total eclipse of the Sun on April 8, 2024!

The next solar eclipses in North America will be the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023 and the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024! The annular solar eclipse of 2023 crosses the US from Oregon to Texas and then to Central America and South America. The total solar eclipse of 2024 sweeps North America from Mazatlán to Newfoundland. A total solar eclipse is so spectacular that seeing one should be high on your bucket list.

The Sun, Moon, and You

Solar eclipses are alignments of the Sun, Moon, and You. You are an active participant in finding your best locations for the two eclipses. We provide the best eclipse maps and field guides to help you plan your adventure. Our maps are especially handy in the field if weather forces relocation. We also provide safe, approved eclipse viewers for full enjoyment of the eclipses.

The two types of central solar eclipses — annular and total — occur within 6 months in North America! The 2023 annular solar eclipse will be a great test of your gear for the 2024 total solar eclipse. The annular eclipse will also enhance public anticipation of the 2024 total solar eclipse.

The passage of the total solar eclipse

See how the duration of totality peaks in Mexico and the speed of the Moon’s shadow increases as totality reaches the Atlantic. The passage of the shadow is shown every 10 minutes.

The total solar eclipse crosses five time North American time zones from Mountain to Newfoundland time. The umbral shadow is on North America from first landfall at Mazatlán to last exit at Newfoundland for one hour and 43 minutes.

The passage of the annular solar eclipse

The antumbral shadow reaches Oregon at 9:13 in the morning, Pacific time. The passage of the shadow is shown every 5 minutes.

The path of the annular solar eclipse goes through an amazing constellation of national parks, especially in the Four Corners region.

Maps of the 2024 total solar eclipse

These maps show the durations of totality for cities inside the path of totality. The ovals depict the Moon’s shadow as it moves every 5 minutes. The width of the path of totality reaches 124 miles.

More detailed eclipse maps and information can be found on our 2024 eclipse webpage.

The impact of the 2 eclipses

31 million people in the US live inside the 2024 path of totality. That’s twice and a half as much as the12 million people who lived inside the path of the 2017 total solar eclipse. In 2024, millions more will visit. These maps measure population impacts and estimate how many people might come for the annular and total solar eclipses.

A remarkable fact is that over half the US population lives within 250 miles of the path of totality!

When is the next eclipse?

The first question after every eclipse is — when is the next one? These are the total and annular solar eclipses in the current decade. Noteworthy total eclipses are Spain in 2026, north Africa in 2027, Australia and New Zealand in 2028, and Africa and Australia in 2030. Our atlas of solar eclipses and solar eclipse globe cover all 21st century eclipses.

Total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 over Mexico, the USA, and Canada

These are the stages of a total solar eclipse. The partial phases last about an hour and 20 minutes.

The next total solar eclipse to visit North America will be April 8, 2024. The duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017. The 2017 total solar eclipse was witnessed by about 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina, and the upcoming 2024 Great American Eclipse is sure to be witnessed by many millions more.

Because of what they saw — the exquisite beauty of the Sun’s corona hanging in the suddenly darkened sky — many millions more will know that a total solar eclipse is something truly worth seeing. In the US, totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT on April 8, 2024. Our GIF below, books, maps, and our soon-to-be-released new mobile app, show exact times and durations in many locations along the path of totality.

If you’ve not seen a total solar eclipse before, put it on your bucket list and mark this date! It is truly a breath-taking sight and you won’t regret traveling to see the Sun’s corona, while you stand in the shadow of the moon.

The Moon’s Shadow

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 very 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. In a deep partial eclipse, the sky will cool and sunlight will take on an eerie quality. We encourage you get inside the path of totality! 99% is not the same as 100%. You will only see the corona when you are at 100% eclipse; inside the path of totality.

Map of Totality

This map of the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse shows durations of totality, what time greatest eclipse is, the degree of partial eclipse outside the path of totality, and the major cities of North America. Use this to find your best location for nature’s greatest sight.

Places inside the path of totality

These are the times and durations of the eclipse at points inside the path of total solar eclipse

Eclipse Impact

How big will the impact of eclipse visitation be to the path of totality? Start with the fact that 31 million people in the United States already live inside the path of totality. These maps summarize the potential visitation from neighboring states, weighing travel distance from throughout the nation.

Safely viewing the eclipse

Solar eclipses can be viewed safely. The rules are simple; use only ISO certified-safe solar viewers, keep them on while the Sun is not yet fully eclipsed. Once the sky suddenly turns dark, and the solar corona appears, then you can take off your eclipse glasses or viewers to look at the Sun’s amazing corona.

The easiest way to view the partial solar eclipse will be with our ISO certified-safe eclipse glasses, and/or SUNoculars, available here. For more instruction on safely viewing the eclipse, visit the American Astronomical Society’s authoritative site, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety

Cities inside the path of totality

These are the cities inside the path of total solar eclipse. Click for larger version

The moon’s shadow first touches Mexico at Mazatlan. Then it travels northeast through Mexico and enters the United States at Texas, cuts a diagonal all the way across the country to Maine, and then visits the maritime provinces of Canada.

The major cities inside the path are Mazatlan, Torreon, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Montreal.

The ovals in the map show the shadow of the Moon at five minute intervals. This path is called the path of totality.

Highlights along the 2024 path of totality

A Great North American Solar Eclipse

Anticipation for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will be sky high! Not only are there 32 million people already living within the USA section of the path, but metropolitan areas such as St Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Toronto, and Quebec are very close to the path. The major cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., are all within 200 miles of the path of totality. So be prepared for the single-biggest mass travel event in the USA.

Landfall at Mexico

The first touchdown of the Moon’s shadow on land is Isla Socorro, 600 km from the Mexican mainland. The total solar eclipse first touches the mainland near Mazatlan, Mexico. Totality here is up to 4 minutes, 20 seconds along the center line. Other large Mexican cities in the path are Torreon and Durango.

Texas cities

By celestial luck, the total solar eclipse will drape the major cities of San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Texas will attract many eclipse chasers because of its superior good weather odds, numerous hotel rooms, and an extensive highway system which is key if a last minute relocation to clear skies is needed.

South central states

After Texas, the Moon’s shadow crosses Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas. The path comes close to St. Louis, so there will be a massive amount of traffic south to the path. Carbondale, Illinois enjoys it’s second total solar eclipse just 7 years after the August 21, 2017 eclipse.

The Midwest

Key cities in the path of total eclipse are Indianapolis, Dayton, Toledo, Cleveland, and Akron. The metropolitan areas close to the path include St Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. Expect extremely heavy traffic into the path on the early morning of April 8, 2024.

New England

Niagara Falls will be a favored location for many, and a photogenic sight for eclipse landscape photographers. Other New England cities in the path are Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Burlington, and Presque Island. New York City, Boston, Washington DC, and Philadelphia are within 200 miles of the path of totality! Depending on the weather forecast, there will be a massive number of people leaving the Eastern Seaboard towards the path.

Montreal and Canada

Montreal is inside the path of total solar eclipse and the major Canadian cities of Toronto, Ottawa, and Quebec are within a short drive to the path. After passing parts of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the eclipse visits the Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Maps of the eclipse path

These specific area maps show where to go to see nature’s most amazing sky spectacle. The maps are arranged in the direction that the Moon’s shadow will travel. The gray ovals inside the path are the actual Moon’s shadow, calculated every 5 minutes. Click on each map to see a larger version.

Field Guide to the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses

We recommend our Field Guide for planning your eclipse trip, and also in the lead-up to eclipse day if cloudy weather suggests relocation. Many locations are recommended for a combination of duration, percent chance of clear skies, scenery and culture. By reading the maps, you can look up the start and end times for any location, the duration of totality inside the central path, and the times of greatest eclipse for the partial and total eclipse areas. The Field Guide includes 2 eclipse glasses and is available here.

These maps are from our Atlas of Solar Eclipses - 2020 to 2045 . This atlas spans all partial, annular, hybrid, and total solar eclipses around the globe within 26 years. If you are an eclipse chaser, this is your vacation guide through 2045!

Detailed path of the april 8, 2024 eclipse over mexico and texas. These maps are from our Atlas of Solar Eclipses — 2020 to 2045. Click to enlarge.

Detailed path of the april 8, 2024 total solar eclipse over central states of the US. These maps are from our Atlas of Solar Eclipses — 2020 to 2045. Click to enlarge..

detailed path of the april 8, 2024 total solar eclipse over eastern states of the us. These maps are from our Atlas of Solar Eclipses — 2020 to 2045. Click to enlarge.

detailed path of the april 8, 2024 total solar eclipse over maine and canadian maritime provinces. These maps are from our Atlas of Solar Eclipses — 2020 to 2045. Click to enlarge.

We developed this map for educators and anyone doing eclipse outreach. This map measures 10 feet by 2 feet and is packed with information on the path of total solar eclipse. You can download our 10-foot long 2024 eclipse map here!

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