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How often does total solar eclipse 2024 happen — and why today’s event is so rare

A rare total solar eclipse 2024 on April 8 will produce a “path of totality” over North America, resulting in midday darkness over large portions of the US, Canada, and Mexico.

When the moon moves in front of the sun and obscures our vision of it, this is known as a solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon shuts out the sun’s light. These are uncommon occurrences that are only seen for brief periods in particular locations.

The 2024 total solar eclipse path of totality will arc from Texas to the East Coast. If the weather is clear, cities like the town of Burl Vermont; Dallas, Texas; and Buffalo, New York, will have some of the best views.

What is a Solar Eclipse?

When the Moon moves in front of the Earth and the Sun, it can completely or partially obscure the Sun’s light, a process known as a solar eclipse.

An area of the moon that obscures the sun creates a shadow on Earth known as a “path of totality.” This path traverses the surface as a rather thin band. If the clouds and weather align, anybody standing inside this ring can see a total solar eclipse. The sky will grow gloomy, resembling dawn or dusk, when the Moon fully obscures the Sun in the line of totality.

People will only witness a partial eclipse if they are not on that line, or the path of totality. Depending on the extent to which the Moon obscures the Sun in their location, the sky will appear significantly darker to them than it did before the eclipse.

solar eclipse 2024

Total Eclipse 2024

when is the solar eclipse: April 8 is when the 2024 total solar eclipse will take place. A 185-kilometer span between Mexico, the US, and Canada will be visible for the totality, or complete darkening of the sky. It will also be viewed in up to eighteen different US states. However, skywatchers in India won’t be able to see it.,

The complete solar eclipse is scheduled to start at 9:12 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST) on April 8, reach totality at 10:08 p.m., and conclude at 2:22 a.m. on April 9, 2024. Totality is expected to strike the Pacific coast of Mexico first, at approximately 11:07 am PDT, and exit Maine at approximately 1:30 pm PDT.

What is the average amount of total solar eclipses?

It is rare to witness a total solar eclipse glasses, and even more so when it is not visible from the United States.

The occurrences take place globally every one to three years, however they are frequently only visible from the poles or the center of the ocean.

Savoring a total solar eclipse involves several considerations. To ensure that the event isn’t obscured by clouds, viewers must have clear skies. Only those who are in the path of totality will witness the entire effect of the sun being blotted out. According to NASA, those who are not in the path of totality can still witness a partial eclipse, in which part of the sun is obscured by the moon.

Solar eclipse 2024 interactive map

solar eclipse 2024

CityPercent of totalityEclipse beginsMaximum eclipseEclipse ends
Luna Pier100%1:57 p.m.3:13 p.m. (Total eclipse lasts 19 seconds)4:26 p.m.
Monroe99.9%1:57 p.m.3:13 p.m.4:27 p.m.
Detroit99.2%1:58 p.m.3:14 p.m.4:27 p.m.
Livonia98.9%1:58 p.m.3:13 p.m.4:27 p.m.
Ann Arbor98.7%1:57 p.m.3:13 p.m.4:26 p.m.
Port Huron98.4%2:00 p.m.3:15 p.m.4:28 p.m.
Lansing96.2%1:56 p.m.3:12 p.m.4:25 p.m.
Grand Rapids93.7%1:55 p.m.3:11 p.m.4:24 p.m.
Alpena90%2:01 p.m.3:15 p.m.4:27 p.m.
Traverse City87.7%1:58 p.m.3:12 p.m.4:24 p.m.

Even at 99% coverage, there is still enough sunlight to hurt your eyes during an eclipse. So you’ll want to make sure you have eclipse glasses or another form of eye safety

The last complete solar eclipse occurred when?

The last total solar eclipse glasses, which could only be seen from Antarctica, occurred in 2021. As per NOAA, the duration of totality was a mere minute and fifty-four seconds.

2017 saw the last total solar eclipse that North Americans could see. There were reports of the unusual occurrence in states ranging from South Carolina to Oregon. Before then, just five states were in the path of totality during the last total solar eclipse that could be seen in the United States since 1979.

solar eclipse glasses

What to know if your solar eclipse glasses are safe if they are “ISO certified”

When is the next solar eclipse that is total?

According to NOAA, the next total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. Views of this eclipse will be possible from Iceland, northern Spain, eastern Greenland, and the Arctic.

In the United States, observers of a total solar eclipse will have to wait a lot longer. The contiguous United States won’t see a total solar eclipse until August 2044.

FAQ’s

what time is the solar eclipse 2024?

The total solar eclipse will begin at 9:12 pm on April 8, totality will start at 10:08 pm, and will end on April 9, 2024, at 2:22 am.

when was the last solar eclipse?

August 21, 2017.

what time is the eclipse tomorrow?

The solar eclipse will begin at 9:12 pm on April 8.

What happens during lunar eclipse?

Earth’s shadow falls upon the surface of the Moon, dimming it and sometimes turning the lunar surface a striking red over a few hours. 

Where to get eclipse glasses?

 Get a free pair at Warby Parker or your local library, or buy a pair at these select retailers. 

What is solar eclipse time?

9:12 pm on April 8, totality will start at 10:08 pm and will end on April 9, 2024, at 2:22 am.

How long will the eclipse last?

About two and a half hours.

What to know if your solar eclipse glasses are safe if they are “ISO certified”

One of the most eagerly awaited events of the year is the solar eclipse, which is expected to occur on Monday (weather allowing) and be seen by an estimated 31 million Americans.

Checking to see if the solar eclipse glasses you have managed to obtain, whether free or at a cost, have been approved for use during a solar eclipse is one of the greatest methods to guarantee that you will be able to enjoy this rare occasion securely and comfortably.

The following is information about solar eclipse glasses that have received ISO certification from the International Organization for Standardization.

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What does ISO mean? 

The American Mathematical Society defines ISO as an acronym for International Organization Standardization, a “non-governmental organization composed of members from the national standards bodies of 167 countries.”

“Develop international standards for a wide range of activities, including the manufacture of products, management of processes, and delivery of services,” is the mission of the ISO, which has its headquarters in Switzerland.

About 45,000 subject matter experts participate, working with numerous technical committees, subcommittees, and working groups to assist in this endeavor. 

The standards set, at least in the words of ISO, can be “described as the best way of doing something.” 

“‘Best’ can mean ‘most efficient,’ ‘most cost-effective,’ ‘most sustainable’ or some other appropriate superlative depending on the activity,” the Astronomical Society wrote.

What are ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses? 

Eclipse glasses that are “ISO certified” means that those lenses you either purchased or got for free are considered safe to use in the event of a particular celestial phenomenon, such as a solar eclipse.

Proper eclipse glasses are 100,000 times darker than sunglasses to block nearly all visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light and protect our sensitive retinas when looking toward the sun.

The ISO has established a standard for “direct observation of the sun” that is categorized as “ISO 12312-2:2015.” This means that any goods that are sold or promoted as “solar eclipse” viewing glasses and meet this standard will offer a “comfortable view” and “protect your eyes from injury.”

ISO 12312-2:2015, according to the American Astronomical Society, “supersedes” a patchwork of previous national and regional standards. In 2015, it was first “adopted,” and five years later, it was “affirmed.”

Therefore, it might be “not recommended to buy or use such a product, as failure to meet the requirements of an applicable standard likely means the product is not genuinely safe, not well suited to its purpose, or both” if you purchase eclipse glasses from unapproved suppliers.

For additional safety information on standard application, requirements, and conformance assessment, see the website of the American Astronomical Society.

Does NASA certify solar eclipse glasses? 

No, NASA isn’t in the business of “endorsing any sort of merchandise.” 

“We are simply not a certification agency,” a NASA spokeswoman previously told USA TODAY. 

So, be wary of any solar eclipse merch, or solar eclipse glasses that claim to be endorsed by NASA. 

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Where can you get ISO solar eclipse glasses? 

Before you check out the list of places you can get ISO glasses below, make sure you double-check that the glasses you were given or are purchasing can be used to safely observe the solar eclipse. 

You can check if your specs are ISO-certified by visiting the online list of verified North American vendors compiled by the Astronomical Society. 

Another way to check if your glasses are safe for use is to look for an ISO label somewhere on the product, USA TODAY previously reported. 

There is a chance “you could permanently damage your eyes or lose vision forever” on eclipse day if  you opt out of protective eyewear. Even observing the eclipse through camera lenses, binoculars and telescopes without a specialized solar filter could instantly cause severe eye injury, USA TODAY reported.

A couple of vendors that might still have ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses, for free or for purchase, at Great American Eclipse, National Eclipse, American Paper Optics, or Warby Parker. 

Government organizations and participating public libraries may be able to provide pairs of solar eclipse glasses, while supplies last. 

What is the path of the eclipse? 

The solar eclipse is set to chart a 115-mile-wide path of totality, shrouding portions of Mexico, the United States, and Canada in unnatural darkness and unveiling the sun’s elusive outermost layer for a brief moment.