Happy solar eclipse of 2024! The Moon is having its day in the Sun. Today, the Moon passes in front of the Earth and the Sun, obstructing the Sun’s light. During the period of totality, the sky will grow darker, the air will get colder, and for up to 45 minutes, the Sun’s bright corona—its rarely seen outermost region—will be visible! A partial eclipse, or a total eclipse if they are in the path of totality, is a unique and rare event that people in North America (Mexico, the United States, and Canada) get to see. Watch the ceremony live from 1-4 p.m. ET on NASA’s livestream.
Solar eclipses occur two to five times a year, but total solar eclipses only occur about once every 550 days. and. On average, it takes more than 300 years for a total solar eclipse to be visible from the same location.
During such rare events, it is common for people to congregate in areas with the best visibility. A total solar eclipse is scheduled for states from Texas to Maine, but people across North America will be able to experience at least a partial solar eclipse. Find out what types of solar eclipses you’ll see using NASA’s Eclipse Explorer. Direct, unfiltered sunlight can cause serious damage to your eyes, so it’s very important to use safe solar viewing glasses (not sunglasses) or indirect viewing methods to view the eclipse.
Get ready to wear eclipse safety glasses for a spectacular sight.