On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. This will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. Parts of 15 U.S. states, including Kentucky, will experience totality.
NASA’s interactive eclipse map shows how close you are to the eclipse path.
What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, causing the moon to cast a shadow on a portion of the Earth’s surface. When the eclipse hits Earth, those in the center of the moon’s shadow will experience a total eclipse. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or desk. If the weather permits, those in the path of the total solar eclipse can see the sun’s corona (or outer atmosphere), which is usually hidden by the face of the sun.
A total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse where viewers can momentarily remove their eclipse glasses for the brief period of time when the moon is completely blocking the sun. Eclipse glasses are NOT the same as regular sunglasses!
Have eclipse questions? You can learn more about the Types of Solar Eclipses from NASA.
Total Solar Eclipse Safety
It is important to remember that specialized eclipse glasses or lenses are the only safe way to view the eclipse. Watching the eclipse without proper safety equipment can cause severe eye injury.
Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and should comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Here are some important safety guidelines to follow during a total solar eclipse.
- You can view the sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
- You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it is safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.)
- As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun.
You can find more information on solar eclipse safety from NASA.
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