On Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be an eclipse of the Sun visible from all of North America.  In a narrow strip, from the west coast of Mexico, through Texas, Indiana, New York, Vermont and eastern Canada, the eclipse will be total (meaning that the Moon’s dark disk fully covers the Sun.) Some 32 million people live in the 115-mile-wide total eclipse path, and millions of tourists from around the country and the world are expected to travel there.  Another total eclipse won’t cross the U.S. until 2045!

In most places in North America, people will see a partial eclipse, with only a smaller part of the Sun covered. To find out what the eclipse will look like, and when it will happen, in your community, go to: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8 and put your town into the box at the upper right.

This is a non-partisan sky event, for which neither the Republicans or the Democrats can take credit or assign blame!

Any time the Sun is not completely covered, you’ll need specially-made protective glasses or a way to project an image. Thanks to our project, funded by the Moore Foundation, 13,000 public libraries have been giving away eclipse glasses and an information booklet with eclipse maps, tables, and a fuller explanation of safe-viewing techniques. The booklet is free at http://bit.ly/eclipsesforlibraries A booklet for educators with more information can be found at: http://bit.ly/eclipsesforteachers

If your library is out of glasses (many are), you can still purchase some (see list of approved vendors at: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters )  My favorite way of watching the partial eclipse is to stand with your back to the Sun, and hold a household colander over your shoulder, so it makes a nice shadow on the sidewalk.  Each of the holes in the colander will project a small shadow image of the eclipsed Sun and you can see it change with time.

Two key things to think about in planning for viewing the eclipse is sky location and weather. In most places in the US, the eclipse will happen mid-day and therefore high in the sky. Still, make sure the day before that you can see the Sun at eclipse time from your location. If the sky is completely cloudy, as can happen in April, you won’t be able to see the Sun or the eclipse at all.  But NASA has plans to simulcast it from several clear locations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5j95RUSLd8