The sky over North America is set to stage a total solar eclipse on Monday, a spectacle that has been eagerly awaited in recent times.
Provided the weather conditions are favorable, millions of spectators in Mexico, 15 U.S. states, and eastern Canada will be afforded the opportunity to witness the moon position itself between the Earth and sun, effectively blotting out the sun’s light for a short duration.
The total solar eclipse will be viewable along a “path of totality” that spans more than 100 miles in width and stretches across the continent. Along this path, the moon will wholly obscure the sun, leading to a temporary reduction in light during the afternoon.
For all other regions in the continental U.S., a partial solar eclipse will be evident, with the moon seeming to take a chunk out of the sun. The size of the chunk is contingent on the viewer’s location.
The first point in North America to encounter totality on Monday will be along Mexico’s Pacific coast, with the event kicking off around 11:07 a.m. PT, as specified by NASA.
Subsequent progress of the eclipse’s path encompasses Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Portions of Michigan and Tennessee will also be in a position to view totality provided the sky conditions are clear.
In Canada, the eclipse will be viewable in certain regions of southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton, at the eastern extremity of Nova Scotia.
The timing and duration of the eclipse and totality are variable depending on the location. Most locations will witness around 2 minutes of darkness, but the longest periods of totality usually occur in the center of the eclipse’s path.
This year, the longest phase of totality, lasting 4 minutes and 28 seconds, will be observed in an area northwest of Torreón, Mexico.
![The moon covers the sun during a total solar eclipse in Cerulean, Ky.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-04/240402-total-solar-eclipse-al-0757-9bf3fc.jpg)
Here is a list of timing for some U.S. cities located along the path of totality, as mentioned by NASA.
- Dallas: Partial eclipse starts at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality begins at 1:40 p.m. CT.
- Idabel, Oklahoma: Partial eclipse commences at 12:28 p.m. CT and totality starts at 1:45 p.m. CT.
- Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse starts at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality kicks off at 1:51 p.m. CT.
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Partial eclipse initiates at 12:39 p.m. CT and totality starts at 1:56 p.m. CT.
- Paducah, Kentucky: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality takes off at 2:00 p.m. CT.
- Carbondale, Illinois: Partial eclipse gets underway at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality launches at 1:59 p.m. CT.
- Evansville, Indiana: Partial eclipse gets going at 12:45 p.m. CT and totality starts up at 2:02 p.m. CT.
- Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality starts at 3:13 p.m.
- Erie, Pennsylvania: Partial eclipse kicks off at 2:02 p.m. ET and totality gets going at 3:16 p.m. ET.
- Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse starts at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality springs into action at 3:18 p.m.
- Burlington, Vermont: Partial eclipse initiates at 2:14 p.m. ET and totality gets rolling at 3:26 p.m. ET.
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse gets off at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality starts at 3:27 p.m.
- Caribou, Maine: Partial eclipse starts at 2:22 p.m. ET and totality kicks off at 3:32 p.m. ET.
Other resources, like NationalEclipse.com and TimeandDate.com, can help figure out when different phases of the eclipse will be visible at your location.
If you have plans to watch this show in the sky, remember that it’s unsafe to look directly at the sun, even through binoculars, telescopes, or camera lenses. Special eclipse glasses are needed to view solar eclipses safely and avoid permanent damage to the eyes.
A total solar eclipse will grace the skies over North America on Monday, one of the most hotly anticipated sky-watching events in recent years.
Weather permitting, millions of people in Mexico, 15 U.S. states and eastern Canada will have the chance to see the moon slip between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light.
The total solar eclipse will be visible along a “path of totality” that measures more than 100 miles wide and extends across the continent. Along that path, the moon will fully obscure the sun, causing afternoon skies to darken for a few minutes.
In all other parts of the continental U.S., a partial solar eclipse will be visible, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun. Exactly how big a bite depends on the location.
The first spot in North America that will experience totality on Monday is on Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PT, according to NASA.
After moving northeast across Mexico, the eclipse’s path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Slivers of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.
In Canada, the eclipse will be visible in parts of southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.
The timing of the eclipse and the duration of totality varies by location. Most places will experience around 2 minutes of darkness, but the longest periods of totality are typically in the center of the eclipse’s path.
This year, the longest stretch of totality will last 4 minutes and 28 seconds in an area northwest of Torreón, Mexico.
![The moon covers the sun during a total solar eclipse in Cerulean, Ky.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-04/240402-total-solar-eclipse-al-0757-9bf3fc.jpg)
Below is a list of timings for some U.S. cities along the path of totality, according to NASA.
- Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m. CT.
- Idabel, Oklahoma: Partial eclipse begins at 12:28 p.m. CT and totality at 1:45 p.m. CT.
- Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m. CT.
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Partial eclipse begins at 12:39 p.m. CT and totality at 1:56 p.m. CT.
- Paducah, Kentucky: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality at 2:00 p.m. CT.
- Carbondale, Illinois: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality at 1:59 p.m. CT.
- Evansville, Indiana: Partial eclipse begins at 12:45 p.m. CT and totality at 2:02 p.m. CT.
- Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
- Erie, Pennsylvania: Partial eclipse begins at 2:02 p.m. ET and totality at 3:16 p.m. ET.
- Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
- Burlington, Vermont: Partial eclipse begins at 2:14 p.m. ET and totality at 3:26 p.m. ET.
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.
- Caribou, Maine: Partial eclipse begins at 2:22 p.m. ET and totality at 3:32 p.m. ET.
Other resources can also help you figure out when the various phases of the eclipse will be visible where you live, including NationalEclipse.com and TimeandDate.com.
If you plan to watch the celestial event, remember that it’s never safe to look directly at the sun, including through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses. Special eclipse glasses are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent permanent eye damage.