Join Us To See The Next Total Solar Eclipse
A total eclipse of the Sun is an immersive, emotional event. For mere moments, it engenders a sense of wonder and awe in all who view it. Those who have seen totality will travel thousands of miles to see another just to relive this brief celestial spectacle. TravelQuest has a variety of upcoming total solar eclipse tours in various stages of development: Western Australia and the Timor Sea in April 2023 Mexico, the eastern United States, and Canada in April 2024 and Iceland and northern Spain in August 2026. Youll find TravelQuest at each of these eclipses, perfectly positioned somewhere along the path of totality. Join us, and share in the wonder of a total eclipse of the Sun. Contact TravelQuest today to learn more about our upcoming trips
Header image by Rick Fienberg/TQ
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The 2024 Total Eclipse Path Through Kentucky
Kentucky gets its share of the path as well not nearly as much as in 2017, but there are a few places you could choose to watch totality from. Besides the Kentucky Bend region we just mentioned . You can choose some towns like Wickliffe , Paducah , Henderson , or Carrsville . is right on the edge of the path, and its airport will get a full minute of totality at 14:02CDT. But if you are in Marion, you really want to be as far northwest as you can get, in order to maximize your time in the shadow.
Thats really it for Kentucky. Owensboro is NOT in the path. Places like Bowling Green, Louisville, Hopkinsville , and Murray are not in the path! Ditto Eddyville and the Land Between the Lakes NOT good places to be, if you want to see totality!
Totality made its short trip through Kentucky in just over 7 minutes, from 13:58:17CDT to 14:05:33CDT.
The 2024 Total Eclipse Path Through Nova Scotia
While Nova Scotia makes the list of provinces on the totality list, things here are similar to Tennessee and Michigan within the USA. Only a small portion of the province sees totality about 70 square miles but on the bright side, that is just about double the path area within Tennessee and Michigan combined, and there are actually quite a number of roads and even a few houses contained within the path here in Nova Scotia. As far as totality is concerned, we can only consider the very far northern coast. Locations like Meat Cove and Saint Margaret Village are noted, with Dingwall and even Asby Bay missing out. Most of the area of the province that lies in the path consists of mountains and rural forests, to be sure.
The shadow enters Nova Scotia at the beach to the west of Meat Cove at 16:39:24ADT, and leaves on the other side of Bay St. Lawrence, about as far northeast on the island you can get, at 16:41:05ADT. Less than a minute and a half spent in this far northern piece of land.
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When Is The Next Solar Eclipse
The next total solar eclipse occurs April 20, 2023 and will be visible from Exmouth, Australia, East-Timor, and Papua New Guinea. Technically, this is a hybrid type of solar eclipse, being very briefly an annular solar eclipse at the beginning and end, and a total solar eclipse for the majority of the track.
These are the next three solar eclipses.
The 2024 Total Eclipse Path Through Durango
The shadow comes to Durango at 12:08:30MDT, in a heavily forested area along the Baluarte River. The states capital city lies just off the centerline, and gets 3m 50s of totality just after 12:12MDT. The town of Nazas lies almost exactly on centerline, and is the nearest place to the point of greatest eclipse! This means that folks there will see 4m 28s of totality the longest possible for this eclipse just before 12:15MDT.
Totality misses the state of Zacatecas by only about 6 miles. The towns of Hidalgo and Ejido Zaragoza get a 99.5% partial eclipse, and Colonia Emilio Carranza does a tenth of a percentage point better but no locations within Zacatecas will see totality itself.
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What Is An Eclipse
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun and the Moon blocks the Sun for a viewer on Earth. During a total eclipse, the Moon lines up perfectly to fully obscure the Sun, resulting in “totality” in a partial eclipse, the Moon and the Sun are not perfectly aligned and only part of the Sun is blocked and during an annular eclipse, alignment is perfect but the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely obscure the Sun. The fact that a total solar eclipse is visible from Earth only along a very narrow path for just a few short minutes makes totality one of nature’s rarest events.
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Coming Up: Total Eclipses That Will Affect The Us After 2017
As can be seen from the list above, total solar eclipses are rare events in the U.S., let alone ones that cross significant portions of the country. So it is surprising that the next two such events are coming up relatively soon and, once again, will be visible to millions of Americans. These are the total eclipses of April 8, 2024 and August 12, 2045. Here are their paths:
2024 : The path of this coming-very-soon total eclipse will intersect the path of the 2017 event in and near Carbondale, Illinois. So those lucky residents dont have to travel anywhere in order to experience TWO total solar eclipses in the span of just seven years!
2045 : Note how the path of this eclipse is almost identical to the 2017 event though traversing the continent about 200 miles further to the south.
Jeff Masters and Bob Henson will be posting more about the 2017 event over the course of the next month. Stay tuned!
The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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Where To See The 2024 Eclipse In North America
The total solar eclipse of 2024 will begin its journey from Mexico and end in Canada. If you live in the solar eclipses path of totality it means that youll be lucky enough to view the entire eclipse. The path of the eclipse will be in Sinaloa in Mexico. As it travels, it will pass over Texas, and on to the following states and finally ending in Canada:
If you are outside the path, then heres your opportunity to take a fun road trip with your friends and family. You might consider going to the best viewing spots in the United States which are:
If you do plan on checking out these great cities for the 2024 total solar eclipse, then its a good idea to book your hotel room early. These areas expect thousands of solar eclipse viewers, and accommodations will fill up early. Look for special events surrounding the eclipse like festivals and parties.
If you cant make it to one of the best viewing spots in the country, then you might consider checking out your local science museum or university. Many learning facilities plan on broadcasting this astronomical event for everyone to enjoy, and theyll often provide free lectures and exhibits about the topic of solar eclipses. Its an excellent way to get your kids excited about science too.
What Is An Annular Solar Eclipse
It’s when the moon doesn’t quite cover the sun because it’s at the furthest point from Earth in its slightly elliptical monthly orbit, so it’s smaller in the sky. What observers in a narrow path across Earth’s surface see will be a perfect circle of light around the moon, though solar eclipse glasses must be worn at all times.
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When Does A Solar Eclipse Occur
Simply put, a solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers at least a tiny bit of the Suns surface. For this to occur the Sun, Moon, and Earth must be aligned, which means an eclipse can take place only during a new Moon phase. Given that there are partial, annular, and total eclipses of the Sun, the type of eclipse we see depends on how good the alignment is and whether the Sun and Moon are the same apparent size in the sky. Although the Sun is 400 times farther from Earth than the Moon, the Sun is also 400 times larger. So on average, both appear to be about the same size in the sky. But slight variations in the Moons orbit around Earth, and in Earths orbit around the Sun, mean that the apparent size of the Sun and Moon are not always equal.
If the Sun-Moon-Earth alignment is perfect, and the apparent size of the Moon is slightly larger than the Suns, then a total eclipse occurs. If the alignment is perfect, but the Moons apparent size is slightly smaller than the Suns, then at mid-eclipse a ring of sunlight surrounds the Moon as an annular eclipse takes place. A rare hybrid eclipse happens when the eclipse type changes from annular to total along the eclipse path. If the alignment is not perfect, we see a partial eclipse as the Moon covers only part of the solar surface, even at maximum eclipse. Note that if youre in the path of totality or annularity, youll see partial eclipses before and after the main event.
How Often Is There A Solar Eclipse
Solar eclipses of any type happen two to five times a year. They occur in any combination of partials, annulars, totals, or hybrids, with one exceptionthere can never be two totalities back to back. There are always at least two solar eclipses per year, with the most common pairing being an annular and a total eclipse. If there are three or four solar eclipses in a year, the most common combination by far is three or four partial eclipses in that year. Five solar eclipses in one calendar year is very rareit last happened in 1935 and wont occur again until 2206. Both times, the five eclipses consist of one annular and four partials.
But how often does a total solar eclipse happen? Totalities make up nearly 27 percent of all solar eclipses, so over time, theyre not particularly rare. This averages out to approximately one every 18 months, or two totalities every three years. But that is an average. On one hand, it is possible to have two total eclipses slightly less than 12 months apart. Totality on August 2, 2027, and July 26, 2028, is one example . On the other hand, a wait of 2.5 years between totalities is not uncommon.
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The 2024 Total Eclipse Path Through Michigan
Before moving east, lets talk about Michigan. As in Tennessee, only a very tiny sliver of the far, far Southeastern portion of the state will be in the path and that will be right along the edge. Were not talking about Detroit, either its not even close. Ditto Monroe or Adrian theyre not in the path. Not even Temperance or Lambertville will see totality, either they both lie outside the path! We mean only a few square miles of the absolute tiniest, most southeastern slice of Michigan is in the path. I-75 is in the path, coming north out of Toledo but only as far as the exit at Erie Road! Theres just not many places in Michigan to see totality, but if youre set on doing it from here, the Lost Peninsula Marina will see over a minute. Anywhere east of state road 125 will be in the path, but keep in mind youre near the northern limit this means that edge effects will reduce the amount of actual totality you see. The Bedford Hills golf club is barely on the edge, and anywhere west of that is not going to see totality. Best of luck if youre viewing from Michigan but if you do get to see totality, tell us your story! There wont be many people who see 2024s totality from here, and wed like to hear how it went for you on eclipse day!
The 2024 Total Eclipse Path Through Chihuahua
A very tiny portion of the state of Chihuahua sees totality. Almost totally contained with the small De Palomas lakes region, this piece of the state sticks far enough into the path that a determined person could hike the 8 miles or so east from the lakes, and get a respectable 3 full minutes of totality! Do not attempt this unless you are experienced, know what you are doing, and are able to fully accept the physical risks that hiking in this forbidding desert area might bring. If you are successful, we would love to hear all about your Chihuahua eclipse experience!
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When Is The Next Total Solar Eclipse
The next total solar eclipse is July 2, 2019. The path of totality goes through parts of Chili and Argentina, but todays technology allows you watch the 2019 solar eclipse from live telescopes from your own home.
For the United States, the next total solar eclipse that will be visible for America citizens takes place on April 8, 2024! This eclipse will pass from southern Texas up through northern New England. Get ready!
Highlights Along The 2024 Path Of Totality
A Great North American Solar Eclipse
Anticipation for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will be sky high! Not only are there 32 million people already living within the USA section of the path, but metropolitan areas such as St Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Toronto, and Quebec are very close to the path. The major cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., are all within 200 miles of the path of totality. So be prepared for the single-biggest mass travel event in the USA.
Landfall at Mexico
The first touchdown of the Moons shadow on land is Isla Socorro, 600 km from the Mexican mainland. The total solar eclipse first touches the mainland near Mazatlan, Mexico. Totality here is up to 4 minutes, 20 seconds along the center line. Other large Mexican cities in the path are Torreon and Durango.
Texas cities
South central states
After Texas, the Moons shadow crosses Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas. The path comes close to St. Louis, so there will be a massive amount of traffic south to the path. Carbondale, Illinois enjoys its second total solar eclipse just 7 years after the August 21, 2017 eclipse.
The Midwest
Key cities in the path of total eclipse are Indianapolis, Dayton, Toledo, Cleveland, and Akron. The metropolitan areas close to the path include St Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. Expect extremely heavy traffic into the path on the early morning of April 8, 2024.
Northeastern United States
Montreal and Canada
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The Next Total Solar Eclipse Visible In North America
The map above shows all the total solar eclipses taking place in North America during the 21st century. You can see that the next total eclipse for North America will occur on April 8, 2024.
This might make it seem as if total solar eclipses are somewhat rare, when, in fact, theyre not. They happen about every 18 months as seen from somewhere in the world. However, for any given spot on Earths surface, total solar eclipses dont happen very often, if even during a persons lifetime. The fact is, you might have to travel to see an eclipse.
The next total solar eclipse will cover three countries, including 11 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces . It will start in Mexico, travel across Texas, and then continue north-northeast, taking turns between the U.S. and Canada in the northeast before it exits the continent over Newfoundland. If the weather is benign, this promises to be an even better eclipse in terms of length of totality than the total eclipse of 2017, because the path of totality will be wider.
Upcoming Eclipses Viewable In North America
Two major solar eclipses are coming to North America!Saturday, October 14, 2023, an annular eclipse will be experienced in the US from Oregon to Texas all of North America will have at least a partial solar eclipse.Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be seen in the US from Texas to Maine in the process all of North America will have at least a partial solar eclipse.
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The 2024 Total Eclipse Path Through Oklahoma
Louisiana misses being in the path by only about 8 miles. Anyone planning to view from Shreveport will only see a 98% partial eclipse. Again, thats kind of interesting but you can be in the path with only a short drive west to Tyler , or points further west. The drive will be worth it!
Totality first touches Oklahoma at 13:43:52CDT, at the southernmost bend of the Red River in an isolated spot down Grassy Lake Road, just south of Kemp. Only the far southeastern portion of the state is in the path, with Idabel and Broken Bow being the largest towns near the centerline. It only takes about 9 minutes for the Moons shadow to completely cross this small strip of Oklahoma, so enjoy those moments in the shadow while you can!
Oklahoma City and Tulsa residents need to head Southeast, to get into the path and experience totality! Its not that far, and you will truly be glad you did!
