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Eyes On the Sky

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On April 8, people in North America will get to watch an incredible event called a total solar eclipse. This happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, blocking nearly all the sun’s light. For a few minutes, the sun will disappear and day will seem to turn to night.

Total solar eclipses take place about once every year and a half. But they don’t always occur where people can see them. This year’s total solar eclipse will be the first since 2017 that will be visible across parts of the United States (see map below).

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Disappearing Act

People in what’s called the path of totality will be in total darkness for more than four minutes. In the U.S., the total eclipse will begin at around 1:30 p.m. Central Time near Eagle Pass, Texas. Over the next hour, the giant shadow will move northeast. 

About 32 million Americans live in the path of totality. And as many as 4 million more people are expected to travel to the area to experience darkness in the daytime.

People who aren’t directly in the path of totality will be able to see a partial eclipse. This is when some or most of the sun’s light is blocked. The partial eclipse will be visible, to some degree, in all 48 contiguous states. In New York City, for example, about 90 percent of the sun will be blocked. About 34 percent will be covered in San Francisco, California.

Wherever you are, don’t forget to look up at the sky on April 8! Just make sure to protect your eyes. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can damage your eyes. So grab a pair of special eclipse glasses and watch this rare event. The next total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. won’t take place until August 2044. 

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