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Astra’s Eclipse Guide

Astra's Stargate

April 8, 2024 solar eclipse at totality

On this page: Intro | Interactive Map | Eclipse Diagram | April 8 Outlook | The Sky during the Eclipse | Resources | Eclipse Ohio | Viewing a Partial Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse of April 08, 2024

The U.S.A. gets Totally Eclipsed Again

On April 8, 2024, the path of a total solar eclipse (Saros 139) emerges from the Pacific Ocean and enters Mexico near Mazatlán. It reaches greatest eclipse at Nazas, Mexico where it lasts for 4m 28s. It crosses into the State of Texas near Piedras Negras. It passes through Texas, just south of Dallas where folks will enjoy totality. The path crosses the lower eastern corner of Oklahoma, and passes through Arkansas somewhat north of Little Rock. It crosses the lower eastern corner of Missouri, entering Illinois near Carbondale, moving across the southern extreme of the state. Now the path crosses the middle of Indiana, where it will encounter Indianapolis lasting for 3m 50s. Entering Ohio north of Dayton, the centerline passes just north of Cleveland, and enters Lake Erie. Then it hits the ground again, skimming across the northern extremes of the state of New York with Buffalo sitting right on the centerline. The path crosses Lake Ontario, returning to upper state New York where it crosses Lake Champlain. It moves into Vermont and goes into Canada skipping over New Hampshire, though some totality can be had in the northern extreme. The central path will go through Maine in the U.S. and New Brunswick in Canada. The eclipse path will plunge back into the ocean with 3m 15s of totality south of Pointe-Sapin-Centre. The centerline will then again find land at Newfoundland, plunging into the north Atlantic and stop below Iceland, unable to make it to Europe.

This eclipse will go right over my hometown where it will last for 3m 50s. Even though it is likely that the weather will be lousy on April 8th, I've made up my mind to hang out at home so I can see what there is to see in my neighborhood. I've expanded the local section on this page that now includes local conditions for the State of Ohio. Also check the Resource Guide for the April 8, 2024 Eclipse page.

Unfortunately, all over the United States of America where the eclipse path will be marching is very likely to be hosting cloudy skies. There are major low pressure zones acting up, the Alberta Clipper, it's thunderstorm season, and tornadoes have left definite footprints on the terrain in the U.S. in this early Spring season. The situation in Mexico is perhaps slightly better, but the terrain is mountainous. I think this is the time to consider taking a vacation in Mazatlán next April.

Still, anyone along the eclipse path will experience the total darkness. A miracle may happen and a clear sky might open up on an otherwise cloudy day for some along the path. The description above includes the major cities that are on the actual centerline so if you live close to any of those I mentioned, you will be in for some totality!

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 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.

2024 Total Solar Eclipse Google interactive map
2024 Total Solar Eclipse Google map from Xavier Jubier and NASA

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.

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April 2024 Eclipse Diagrams

Mr. Eclipse 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

2024 Total Solar Eclipse Diagram
2024 Total Solar Eclipse Diagram by Fred Espenak

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2024 Path of Totality

NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio presented the following animation along with some still photos that can be used for presentation by individuals because they are the property of the U.S. government. Presenting, the path of totality for the Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024:

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Outlook for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

The image below comes from the Eclipsophile website owned by Jay Anderson and Jennifer West. In addition to presenting in-depth coverage for solar eclipses, the images on the site are copyright free. So thank you to the folks at Eclipsophile! For their complete weather report on Eclipsophile, go to Total Solar Eclipse April 08, 2024

In this image, the grim picture of North America's weather on the day of the eclipse, April 8, shows not just one but two weather lows. It is early Spring and April is a month of transition. The red eclipse track threads itself through two different low pressure tracks, oh and then there is the Alberta Clipper track, just another low on the eclipse centerline. The sky might be clear but don't count on it. Just remember, even if the sky is totally cloud covered you'll still see day turned into night during the eclipse. Just because the outlook is bleak, don't let that stop you from observing from your location.

Average April sea-level pressure data from NOAA
Average April sea-level pressure data from NOAA is from 2000 - 2019.

A very good resource for planning an eclipse trip in 2024 is Best Places to See the 2024 American Eclipse Based on Historical Weather Data at Sky Live. A nice table gives a quick overview of places to observe from. This site is also on the resources page. SkyLive covers the duration of totality and weather conditions, like mostly clear, partly cloudy, and mostly cloudy weather conditions by percentage for major cities along the 14,790 km or 9,190 mile long eclipse shadow path. Information such as is presented below can be derived from the page linked above.

In Mexico, when the eclipse touches the mainland at Mazatlán, the duration of totality is 4:22, and the maximum eclipse occurs in Naraz, where it lasts 4:29 and there is 52% chance of clear skies. Now the duration of totality slowly decreases. The eclipse path moves into the United States of America near Eagle Pass, Texas where the prediction states that there is a 33% possiblity of cloudy skies. The state where the best possibilities occur are in Texas, but there is no guarantee anywhere. SkyLive gives the data for seventeen different cities in Texas. The duration of the eclipse in Indianapolis, Indiana is 3:51 and the possibility of a clear sky is set at 41%. As the eclipse enters Canada, the first location listed is Bellville, Ontario where the duration of totality is 2:04 with a 33% of clear sky.

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What's in the Sky for the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse

The image below comes from the Stellarium planetarium program. It was programmed for northeastern Ohio, but these results will be similar in your own sky at the time of totality.

For this eclipse we are fortunate to be treated to the spectacle of a very nice periodic comet that heading for its perihelion date with the Sun. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks has been quite active so far for this visit to the inner solar system, a visit that occurs once every 71.3 years. Maybe when the Moon covers the Sun completely, sharp eyes and cameras can spot the comet near Jupiter. Brighter, but closer to the horizon, Venus may also be seen.

Average April sea-level pressure data from NOAA
Average April sea-level pressure data from NOAA is from 2000 - 2019.

Resources for the Total Solar Eclipse of April 2024

Enjoy these resources or go to our page dedicated to April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse Resources that will be updated frequently until the eclipse occurs.

Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 Apr 08 - NASA Goddard Eclipse Map

Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 Apr 08 - EclipseWise by Fred Espenak

Solar Eclipse Across America - American Astronomical Society (AAS)

Solar Eclipse Circumstances Calculator

Use this page from Fred Espenak to find the local circumstances for your home town.

2024 Eclipse Overview - from the National Eclipse website.

April 8, 2024 - Great North American Eclipse - from timeanddate.com

Total Solar Eclipse April 08, 2024 - Eclipsophile

Eclipsophile offers Climate and Weather for Celestial Events and can help eclipse chasers to decide where to go to view eclipses that are covered on the site.

Total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 over Mexico, the USA, and Canada - from the Great American Eclipse website.

2024 April 8 Total Solar Eclipse in Mexico, the USA or Canada - by Xavier Jubier

Input your city into the search box to get local information

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Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse from Ohio

path of solar eclipse from Ohio drawing

OK, right off the bat I'm going to tell you that the Great Lake of Erie is not frozen, as some will suggest when you look up local circumstances because they will be going by local weather history. The 2024 winter was fairly mild in northern Ohio, and an early Spring came even as the ground hog looked for her shadow. Last year on April 8, that is 2023, the sky was clear all day long. Does this mean we are guaranteed to see the Sun this year? Of course not, but don't give up on seeing something where you are in the continental U.S., there is a solar eclipse for everyone. You can view a partial eclipse using simple pinhole projection.

Back in 2017, for every state in the U.S. that was going to experience totality, I made an image like the Ohio state here. I haven't done that this time because the eclipse occurs all over North America, not just in the U.S. I couldn't resist doing Ohio for this eclipse because it's my home. Avon Lake, Ohio is the closest town that is on the centerline. More information on local resources can be found on the Resource Guide for the April 8, 2024 Eclipse page to get more information on local events.

Data from the Google interactive map of the April 2024 Solar Eclipse- by Xavier Jubier

Veterans Memorial Park

Experiencing the Solar Eclipse away from the Centerline

So what do you do if you aren't on the centerline? If you are located in the United States, or even if you are in Mexico or Canada, and you can't get to the centerline, that doesn't mean you can't see this solar eclipse for yourself. Let's say that we are in Denver, Colorado. Using the Google interactive map of the April 2024 Solar Eclipse provided by Xavier Jubier, put the location "Denver, Colorado" into the search box. The map will resize and the display the results for Denver, Colorado in the middle of the screen. As is seen here:

solar eclipse data for Denver on map

Move your cursor to the line of the pop-up table that says, "maximum eclipse". (Marked in the image by a red arrow.) The table changes a little to read, greatest obscuration 65.209%. When the Sun is covered by the maximum extent of the Moon's disk in Denver, it will be 18:40 UT or 12:40pm. There will be a partial eclipse that lasts 2 hours and 25 minutes. During the time of the eclipse, you can use a simple projection camera to watch as the Moon's disk touches the Sun and track it as it moves across the disk until the eclipse is over. Do not look at the Sun unprotected. You can use any method of viewing as long as you and your eyes are protected. Don't take chances - - read our Eclipse Safety page.

solar eclipse in Denver, Colorado

Here is Astra's representation of what you will see in Denver, Colorado at maximum eclipse based on the interactive Google calendar.

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Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 Apr 08

Greatest Eclipse Greatest Duration
Lat. 25° 17’ N
Long. 104° 8.3’ W
Duration 4m 28.1s
Lat. 25° 55’ N
Long. 103° 31’ W
Duration 4m 28.2s

Thanks to Xavier M. Jubier and Google we have this fine service.

Last Modified: 03/28/2024

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