A long totality will be visible in Mexico, USA and Canada on April 8 2024. Find out when it’s happening, where to see it and how to view online.

By Jamie Carter

Published: Monday, 09 October 2023 at 07:57 AM

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Another total solar eclipse is coming to North America, this time on April 8 2024.

Beginning in Mexico and passing across the US and Atlantic Canada, it’s estimated that 32 million people live inside the path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse.

That’s 20 million more than in 2017 during the last total solar eclipse in the US, which went coast to coast.

This time it’s also much longer, with totality peaking at 4 minutes and 27 seconds. It comes less than six months after the October 14 ‘ring of fire’ annular solar eclipse in the US, Central and South America.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent size in the sky is exactly right to completely cover the Sun’s disk, making it possible to glimpse the solar corona around the Moon’s silhouette for a few minutes.

This is called totality, during which the sky turns a deep twilight.

On either side of totality, it’s possible to see phenomena such as Baily’s beads and diamond rings as the last and first drops of sunlight are visible.

April 8 2024 solar eclipse dates and times

The path of totality for the April 8 2024 total solar eclipse will be around 120 miles/190 kilometres wide.

Places from where the April 8 solar eclipse will be visible include:

Mexico

• Sinaloa
• Durango
• Coahuila

USA

• Texas
• Oklahoma
• Arkansas
• Missouri
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Michigan
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Maine

Canada

• Ontario
• Quebec
• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland

Parts of the Texas Hill Country that will experience totality on April 8 2024 will have seen the ‘ring of fire’ annular solar eclipse on October 14 2023.

Observing totality

The closer you stand to the centre of the path of totality during a total solar eclipse, the longer the duration of totality

But you also have to think about weather.

The further southwest you are the better chance for clear skies.

Mexico, which will see its first total solar eclipse since July 11, 1991, is where the chances of a clear sky are highest.

Totality for the 8 April solar eclipse will be seen first in Mazatlán on the Pacific coast (4 min 17 sec, 11:09 am MST) and the Moon’s central shadow will leave the planet at South Bird Island, Newfoundland (2 min 53 sec, 5:13 pm NDT) in Canada.

Iconic sites where totality will be visible include:

• Stonehenge II, Ingram, Texas (4 min 25 sec, 1:31 pm CDT)
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana (3 min 40 sec, 3:06 pm EDT)
• Niagara Falls State Park, Ontario, Canada/New York, US (3 min 29 sec, 3:18 pm EDT)
• Mont Mégantic Observatory, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (3 min 28 sec, 3:28 pm EDT)

National Parks, State Parks and Biosphere Reserves in the path of totality include:

• Cuatro Ciénegas Biosphere Reserve, Coahuila, Mexico (4 min 8 sec, 12:21 pm CST)
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas, US (4 min 25 sec, 1:33 pm CDT)
• Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas, US (3 min 37 sec, 1:47 pm CDT)
• Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Little Rock, Arkansas, US (3 min 23 sec, 1:50 pm CDT)
• Point Pelee National Park Dark Sky Preserve, Ontario, Canada (2 min 57 sec, 3:13 pm EDT)
• Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pennsylvania (3 min 45 sec, 3:16 pm EDT)
• Kouchibouguac National Park Dark Sky Preserve, New Brunswick, Canada (3 min 16 sec, 4:34 pm ADT)

Major cities that will see the full April 8 eclipse (totality):

• Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico (4 min 17 sec, 11:09 am MST)
• Durango City, Durango, Mexico (3 min 47 sec at 12:12 pm CST)
• Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico (4 min 11 sec at 12:16 pm CST)
• Dallas, Texas, US (3 min 49 sec from 1:40 pm CDT)
• Little Rock, Arkansas, US (2 min 30 sec from 1:51 pm CDT)
• Indianapolis, Indiana, US (3 min 47 sec from 3:06 pm EDT)
• Cleveland, Ohio, US (3 min 50 sec from 3:13 pm EDT
• Buffalo, New York, US (3 min 45 sec from 3:18 pm EDT)
• (Southern) Montréal, Québec, Canada (1 min 59 sec from 3:26 pm EDT)

How to observe an eclipse safely

You should never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection (in the form of eclipse glasses and solar filters) and some phases of this solar eclipse will be too dangerous to look at with the naked eye.

Everyone across North America will need to wear eclipse glasses or use solar filters to safely view all or parts of this event.

For those outside the path of totality, eclipse glasses will be required for the entire event.

For those inside the path of totality, the few minutes of totality is perfectly safe to look at with the naked eye (that is the attraction of the event), but it’s preceded and followed by a long partial solar eclipse that requires eclipse glasses, so you should always observe with caution.

As is always the case with any form of solar observing, if you are not sure what you’re doing, don’t attempt it.

A safer way is to observe the eclipse indirectly, by making a solar projection screen.

The same safety warnings apply to cameras and binoculars, which should be used only with solar filters during the partial phases.

You’ll need to remove the solar filters during totality if you want to capture the corona on camera.

But keep an eye on the time so you know when the Sun is about to remerge – it’s very important to replace your filters before then if you don’t want to damage your camera.

You could also observe the April 8 eclipse close-up by using a solar telescope.

For more advice, including kid-friendly ways of safely observing a solar eclipse, read our guide on how to safely view an eclipse.

For more advice, watch our video on how to safely observe a solar eclipse below: