The Sun and Moon align to create a solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This eclipse will pass over the United States in a narrow band stretching from Texas to Maine and is known as the Great American Eclipse. This is the first time in nearly 20 years that a total solar eclipse will be visible in the continental US, and it will last longer than the one that dazzled millions in 2017. Our complete guide to the 2024 total solar eclipse tells you everything you need to know, from how and where to watch to why this is an event you will want to attend.
The 2024 solar eclipse will be a rare event for the United States, and its path of darkness passes over Muncie. You’ll have to wear special eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector to view the Sun safely. However, you’ll be able to experience totality for 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of the Great American Eclipse in 2017. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Sun’s outmost layer, its corona, with the naked eye. During this brief period of darkness, the sky will seem like it’s about to turn dusk or dawn. You’ll be awed by the fantastic array of colors and lights in the suddenly darkened sky.
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You can witness the phenomenon from home using solar eclipse glasses and a homemade pinhole projector or an observatory or science center in the area. Many museums and universities will also be broadcasting the eclipse, and some will have lectures and exhibits on the topic. If you need more time to make it to a viewing spot, check out your local library or university and look for books on eclipses. You’ll find many educational websites about solar eclipses that you can use as well.
This year’s eclipse is even more remarkable due to increased solar activity. You’ll have the added benefit of observing the Sun’s outer atmosphere and phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. For this reason, the 2024 total eclipse is a rare treat for astronomers and casual observers alike.
Millions of people will travel to the areas in the path of totality to watch the solar eclipse. Hotels will fill up, so book your stay early. You can also find eclipse-themed activities in these areas, such as “space proms” in the Hill Country of Texas and weddings with a celestial twist in Russellville, Arkansas, Neil Armstrong’s hometown. In addition, the National Center for Atmospheric Research will bring solar scientists to these locations to provide demonstrations and collect data on the Sun’s corona as part of a citizen science program funded by NASA and the NSF.