On Monday, April 8, 2024, the Moon will slip between the Sun and Earth, blocking out the Sun's light for several minutes and briefly turning day to night. In this moment, it's said that crickets start chirping, birds fly home to roost, and human observers burst into tears from the beauty—all completely natural reactions to a total solar eclipse.
As far as astronomical events go, total solar eclipses hold a mythical status among professional and amateur astronomers alike. Lunar eclipses have their place, but it's the total solar eclipse that really impresses. Although one is visible from somewhere on Earth almost every other year, a total solar eclipse can be seen from the same location only every 360 years or so, on average. So when (if) one happens in the skies above your neighborhood, consider taking a moment to watch it. (And use the proper eye protection to do so, of course!)
Also contributing to the eclipse's mystique is the incredible coincidence that makes it possible in the first place. The Moon is roughly 400 times smaller and about 400 times closer to Earth than the Sun, which allows the Moon to almost entirely block out the Sun when the two line up. This oddly perfect overlap affords scientists the opportunity to study the Sun and its corona—the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere—without being overwhelmed by the usual intensity of the Sun's rays.
This year's total solar eclipse will be visible within a narrow band—the "path of totality"—that stretches across North America, from western Mexico to eastern Canada. Check out the map below to see if and when totality occurs in your area. Outside of this path, a partial solar eclipse will still be visible, to varying degrees.
If you're elsewhere in the world during this eclipse, you may get your chance to see another soon enough: the next total solar eclipse happens in 2026 and will be visible in parts of Europe, followed by another in 2027 that's visible in the Middle East and North Africa. (Find future eclipse dates here.)
Eclipses are an endlessly fascinating phenomenon to learn about. Explore the learning pathways below to find out more about solar eclipses, including ways to incorporate the science of eclipses into classroom learning. If you're a teacher looking for eclipse glasses, inquire with a local library; they may still have glasses available.
In this pathway, learn about the different types of solar eclipses, see the stages of an eclipse, discover how to view one safely, model an eclipse in the classroom, and more.
In this pathway, students can analyze and interpret data from the investigation to find patterns in how their location in North America will determine if they will see a total or partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
We hope that those of you in the path of totality have clear skies on April 8th! If you take pictures or videos of the eclipse, be sure to share them and tag us (@LabXchange) on social media!
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