Astra’s Eclipse Guide

On this page: Intro | Interactive Map | Eclipse Diagram | Observations from April 8 | Eclipse on the Internet | Before the Eclipse: April 8 Outlook | The Sky during the Eclipse | Resources | Eclipse Preview on Everyday Spacer Livestrem | Eclipse Ohio | Viewing a Partial Eclipse

April 8 Eclipse Pages: Home (this page) | Resource Guide | Party Planning

Total Solar Eclipse of April 08, 2024

The U.S.A. got Totally Eclipsed Again

On April 8, 2024, the path of a total solar eclipse (Saros 139) emerged from the Pacific Ocean and entered Mexico near Mazatlán. It reached greatest eclipse at Nazas, Mexico where it lasted for 4m 28s. It crossed into the State of Texas near Piedras Negras. It passed through Texas, just south of Dallas where folks could enjoy totality. The path crossed the lower eastern corner of Oklahoma, and moved through Arkansas somewhat north of Little Rock. It crossed the lower eastern corner of Missouri, entering Illinois near Carbondale, moving across the southern extreme of the state. Now the path crossed the middle of Indiana, where it encountered Indianapolis lasting for 3m 50s. Entering Ohio north of Dayton, the centerline passed just north of Cleveland, and entered Lake Erie. Then it hit the ground again, skimming across the northern extremes of the state of New York with Buffalo sitting right on the centerline. The path crossed Lake Ontario, returning to upper state New York where it crossed Lake Champlain. It moved into Vermont and went into Canada skipping over New Hampshire, though some totality was had in the northern extreme. The central path went through Maine in the U.S. and New Brunswick in Canada. The eclipse path plunged back into the ocean with 3m 15s of totality south of Pointe-Sapin-Centre. The centerline then again hit dirt at Newfoundland, plunging into the north Atlantic and stopping below Iceland, unable to make it to Europe.

This eclipse went right over my hometown where it lasted for 3m 50s. Although it was likely that the weather would be lousy on April 8th, I made up my mind to hang out at home so I could see what there is to see in my neighborhood. I was not disappointed. There is a local section on this page that includes local conditions for the State of Ohio. Also check the Resource Guide for the April 8, 2024 Eclipse page to find more resources for Ohio.

Unfortunately, all over the United States of America across the eclipse track was very likely to be hosting cloudy skies. Often, major low pressure zones are acting up and it's thunderstorm season, while tornadoes have left definite footprints on the terrain in the U.S. during this early Spring season. The situation in Mexico was perhaps slightly better, but the terrain is mountainous. I considered taking a vacation in Mazatlán for the eclipse.

Everyone along the eclipse path experienced the darkness of totality. For some a miracle happened and a clear sky opened up on an otherwise cloudy day. We had high cirrus clouds in northeastern Ohio but they did not keep us from viewing the eclipse. The description above includes the major cities that are on the actual centerline where totality occurred regardless of the weather!

The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse interactive Google map depicted below was created and is maintained by Xavier Jubier. Xavier has many eclipse pages on the internet that he provides as free resources and does not include advertisers. If you like his work, consider giving him a donation. You will find more information on Mr. Jubier below.

The web address for the interactive Google map is given below. It is fully functional and information at various locations can be gathered by zooming in on the map at your location. Why stop at the 2024 eclipse, why not try others? You can look up your home town or any other location you may be thinking of going when you are chasing an eclipse.

April 2024 Eclipse Diagrams

Mr. Eclipse a.k.a. Fred Espenak provides information for every eclipse that may be found on his website, EclipseWise.com. Eclipse diagrams can be very helpful. They can be printed out. Astra only has a single image here, because Mr. Eclipse allows his images to be used without charge as long as he is properly credited. As always, his website is one of the best places on the internet to find the numbers you need to plan eclipse chasing. You can also download a more detailed copy by following this link to the EclipseWise website

For this eclipse, the path of totality is 14,790 km or 9,190 miles long and 185-kilometer or 115-miles. The shadow of the moon moves through Mexico, fifteen U.S. states, and Canada. It traverses the continent of North America and ends its path in the Atlantic Ocean after passing over Newfoundland.

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Astra's Observations during the Total Solar Eclipse

Our observing group included 13 family members. We used a 6" reflector with 32mm eyepiece and a full Thousand Oaks solar filter and a 3" refractor with 18mm eyepiece with 500 mm f/l Ceymore Solar filter. We mounted our 10 x 42 Celestron porro-EclipSmart binoculars on our sturdy tripod. We used viewers or "sunglasses" and small projection cameras as well as a larger box pinhole camera. We failed in our efforts to view the eclipse through kitchen utensils. We decided there were too many clouds to see the image properly with the larger holes in the utensils. Some views of the eclipsed Sun came through the holes in my straw hat at times.

It got cooler when the moon covered half of the Sun. In fact, the weather of the day surprised me. Weather called for 68 degrees and it was at least that. Not usual for early April. I wore only my tee-shirt all day and we needed our hats to keep us cool. As the sky was getting darker, little birds were flying about as if on their way home.

As totality approached, a magnificent 22-degree halo surrounded the eclipsed Sun. I absolutely love halos and go crazy photographing them when I see them. Birds flew toward their sleeping places. There was a flash of light from the Sun as a small patch of clear sky passed by quickly. Soon totality was upon us. It occurred around 3:13 pm just as had been predicted.

The Sun’s corona was blending in with the clouds. I found Jupiter in the sky but I don’t think I actually saw Venus myself. It was cloudy, after all. I tried to see comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, but there were just too many clouds. The view at the telescope was fantastic with giant prominences blasting on all four corners—at the poles and sides and many small red blobs around.

When I looked away from the telescope, I could see a prominence blaring red at the bottom of the disk with my naked eye. I looked around the horizon, where I could see between houses, I could see light all around from the non-eclipsed area at the horizon. I tried hard to take a picture of our group. It didn’t turn out well.

I was pointing my camera at the eclipse to ready a shot. Someone yelled, "Oh, it’s coming out!" I hit the shutter and got a cool diamond ring image.

I guess I watched the end of the eclipse through the camera viewer. I was zoomed in as the Moon exited the disk of the Sun. It was fun watching the eclipse together as a family. Soon after totality, squirrels were scurrying about the trees as if they had just gotten up for the day! I think the picture I took at the end of the eclipse is the best one I've ever taken. Unfortunately, it meant that the journey to totality had been realized.

I kept peeking in the telescope as the sunspots on the disk of the Sun were revealed in reverse order. First the last spots to disappear returned. Some spots that were near to the edge of the Sun earlier appeared sharper as they had moved toward the center of the disk. I did notice the ragged edge of the Moon in my telescope during this eclipse.