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April 8, 2024 - Total Solar Eclipse: Home

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Map of the continental U.S. illustrates the paths of the Moon's shadow across the U.S. during the solar eclipse on April 8.

NASA Scientific Visualization Studio: The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

This map illustrates the paths of the Moon’s shadow across the U.S. during the 2024 total solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North and Central America creating a path of totality. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun while it passes between the Sun and Earth. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk and those standing in the path of totality may see the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona) if weather permits. A  2-minute video Tour of NASA's 2024 Solar Eclipse Map is available on NASA's When and Where page.

From left to right, these images show a total solar eclipse, annular solar eclipse, and partial solar eclipse. A hybrid eclipse appears as either a total or an annular eclipse (the left and middle images), depending on the observer’s location. Credit: Total eclipse (left): NASA/MSFC/Joseph Matus; annular eclipse (center): NASA/Bill Dunford; partial eclipse (right): NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA - Types of Solar Eclipses

Explains the difference between total, annular, partial, and hybrid solar eclipses.

decorative image of solar eclipse with green and blue corona

Wright State University - Eclipse

Special campus events are scheduled for April 2-April 8. See highlights and a FULL SCHEDULE of events and links to other sites with more information.

As pictured here, you can make your own eclipse projector using a cardboard box, a white sheet of paper, tape, scissors, and aluminum foil. With the Sun behind you, sunlight will stream through a pinhole punched into aluminum foil taped over a hole in one side of the box. During the partial phases of a solar eclipse, this will project a crescent Sun onto a white sheet of paper taped to the inside of the box. Look into the box through another hole cut into the box to see the projected image. Credit:NASA

Eye Safety During a Total Solar Eclipse - NASA

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. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. NASA does not approve any particular brand of solar viewers.

Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device. Always supervise children using solar viewers.

A combination of two images taken during a total solar eclipse in 2009 on the board of the ship in neighborhood of Iwo Jima Island. Credit: Marta and Michal Zolnowski. Image at astronomy.com

How to see the 2024 eclipse: Path of totality, times, livestream, state-by-state guide Everything you need to know to safely see the 2024 total eclipse on April 8.

Article by Michael E. Bakich for Astronomy.com. (Published March 8, 2024. Last updated March 15, 2024)

Astronomy.com covers all the latest news in the world of astronomy, including sky observing events, spaceflight news, and the newest discoveries in space. 
 

Map of counties in Ohio delineating the path of totality.

Ohio.org - Ohio Total Solar Eclipse Map

Map of counties in Ohio delineating the path of totality. From Ohio.org, an official site of the State of Ohio.

logo Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park - 2024 Total Eclipse Watch Party

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park - 2024 Total Eclipse Watch Party

The path of totality will cross over 27 park units as it makes its way across Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park will be in the path of totality for the 2024 Total Eclipse and we hope you can join us for the fun. Explore YOUR national park, take in the programming and activities, or simply kick back and watch the main event!

This Ohio map depicts the center line of the total eclipse and the 28 Ohio Department of Natural Resources locations where the eclipse may be viewed.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Solar Eclipse 2024

This Ohio map depicts the center line of the total eclipse.

Areas in Ohio that are outside the path of totality will experience a partial eclipse. A total solar eclipse is a rare and spectacular event. On average, one happens somewhere on the Earth only once every 1.5 years. Only 21 total solar eclipses have crossed the lower 48 states in the entire existence of the United States.

The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806. The next total solar eclipse in Ohio will be in the year 2099.

NASA logo

NASA - 2024 Total 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.
This page includes a 3D visualization based on real science data.