Celestial events remind us how small we are in such a vast universe, and there’s an incredibly rare phenomenon taking place in 2024. A total solar eclipse will blanket the sky in darkness on April 8, 2024, and it’ll be visible right here in Texas. Here’s everything you need to know:
Total solar eclipses are rare celestial phenomena that only occur about every 330 years for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.
Edwin Remsberg / The Image Bank Collection / Getty Images We’re all in for a treat, however, as the next total eclipse is set to occur in 2024 - that’s just seven years after the last one!
The maximum length of totality (in other words, darkness) will be 4 minutes, 28 seconds.
Photo by Victor Ovies Arenas / Moment Collection / Getty Images That may not sound very impressive, but it’s 67% longer than the 2017 eclipse!
Everyone in the lower 48 will be able to see at least a partial eclipse, but only a handful of states will experience the full shebang.
J. Mike Reed Jr. / Moment Collection / Getty Images Texas happens to be among the lucky ones - but the path of totality cuts straight through the state, so it depends on where you live.
Everywhere from San Antonio to just beyond Dallas (heading northeast) can view the eclipse simply by walking outside.
Peter Tsai Photography / Moment Collection / Getty Images That being said, you want to be as close to the center line as possible, which runs about halfway between Austin and Dallas.
If you don’t happen to live in the path of totality, it’s worth planning a trip.
Joe Daniel Price / Moment Collection / Getty Images After all, the next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. isn’t until 2044 - and even then, only Montana and North Dakota will be able to see it!
Viewing a full solar eclipse from anywhere outside the path of totality proves lackluster at best.
mtking / Moment Collection / Getty Images It won’t look any different from a typical night, with the two diamond rings characteristic of a total eclipse nowhere in sight.
Even better for Texas, weather conditions are expected to be most optimal towards the southwest of the path of totality - that’s us!
Igor Chekalin / Moment Collection / Getty Images That means you shouldn’t have any problems viewing the big event.
Click here to learn more about the 2024 total solar eclipse.
Edwin Remsberg / The Image Bank Collection / Getty Images
We’re all in for a treat, however, as the next total eclipse is set to occur in 2024 - that’s just seven years after the last one!
Photo by Victor Ovies Arenas / Moment Collection / Getty Images
That may not sound very impressive, but it’s 67% longer than the 2017 eclipse!
J. Mike Reed Jr. / Moment Collection / Getty Images
Texas happens to be among the lucky ones - but the path of totality cuts straight through the state, so it depends on where you live.
Peter Tsai Photography / Moment Collection / Getty Images
That being said, you want to be as close to the center line as possible, which runs about halfway between Austin and Dallas.
Joe Daniel Price / Moment Collection / Getty Images
After all, the next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. isn’t until 2044 - and even then, only Montana and North Dakota will be able to see it!
mtking / Moment Collection / Getty Images
It won’t look any different from a typical night, with the two diamond rings characteristic of a total eclipse nowhere in sight.
Igor Chekalin / Moment Collection / Getty Images
That means you shouldn’t have any problems viewing the big event.
Are you excited about this rare celestial event? If so, will you be taking a trip into the path of totality? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below, and check out our previous article to see where in Texas you can experience dazzling night skies year-round.
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