Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive During the 2024 Solar Eclipse

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The 2024 total solar eclipse is fast-approaching—and it’s not the kind of thing you want to miss. The first total solar eclipse you could see from the U.S. happened just seven years ago, and the next one won’t come until August 2044. Unless you want to wait a full two decades to witness the moon blocking the sun, you need to act fast—and stock up on what you need for the 2024 solar eclipse as soon as you can.

To see the April 2024 solar eclipse, all you really need is a pair of solar eclipse glasses. But to celebrate the solar eclipse, you need so much more. Solar eclipses signify major changes and important truths, bringing clarity in times of indecision and shaking things up when life feels stagnant. Solar eclipses are also fun to look at—the perfect excuse to throw a party, gather with friends, or raise a glass.

Your solar eclipse survival guide isn’t really about getting through the solar eclipse, but about making the most of it. Take full advantage of the opportunity to switch things up, recenter, and have a little fun. After all, you won’t get another eclipse quite like this one for 20 more years.

What is a total solar eclipse?

When the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, it casts a shadow over the sun—either partially or fully blocking its light. This happens twice a year. But solar eclipses can look completely different, depending on where you’re standing and where the sun, moon, and Earth are orbiting.

There are four kinds of solar eclipses:

• Partial solar eclipse: The moon partially covers the sun, making it look like a crescent. This is the most common type of solar eclipse—we’ve had 77 since 2000. 
• Total solar eclipse: The moon fully covers the sun, completely blocking its light. There have been 68 total solar eclipses since 2000. But until now, only one has been visible from the U.S.
• Annular solar eclipse: The moon covers the sun—but because it’s so far away from Earth, it looks smaller than the sun. This creates a black circle (the moon) with a “ring of fire” (the sun) behind it. There have been 73 annular solar eclipses since 2000, but none have been visible in the U.S.
• Hybrid solar eclipses: The Earth’s curved surface causes an eclipse to look like a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse, depending on where the moon is in its orbit. Unsurprisingly, this is the rarest form of eclipse—with only seven hybrid eclipses since 2000 and none visible in the U.S. since 1930.

Monday’s solar eclipse is a total solar eclipse—one of the rarest kinds of eclipses you can see. As the moon completely covers the sun, the sky will darken, and the eclipse will look like a big black circle with luminescent rays around it.

When is the 2024 solar eclipse?

The next solar eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8 at 2:07 p.m. ET. Depending on where you are, the total solar eclipse could last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. And for hours before and after the total solar eclipse, you should be able to see a partial solar eclipse—if you’re in the right spot and the sky is clear.

Where can you see the 2024 solar eclipse?

The eclipse will be visible across North America, but some places will get a better view than others. If you’re in the path of totality—where the total solar eclipse will be fully visible—you’ll see the moon completely cover the sun if you look at the right time. The path of totality includes U.S. cities like Dallas, Cleveland, and Buffalo, arcing up from Texas through Maine.

If you’re not in the path of totality, don’t fret. The total solar eclipse will look a little different for you, but you’ll still be able to see it. When the moon covers the sun, the sky will darken—but a sliver of the sun may be visible. This NASA eclipse map shows what the solar eclipse will look like at different times of day in different places, so you can plan exactly when to head outside and have a look.

What do you need for the 2024 solar eclipse?

If you want to see the 2024 solar eclipse, solar eclipse glasses are a must. Staring at the sun is inadvisable, and you don’t want to ruin a good day by damaging your eyes! 

But if you want to make the most of the solar eclipse—by celebrating with friends, getting recentered, or commemorating the occasion—there’s plenty to stock up on. There’s bubbly to pop , sage to smudge , journal pages to fill , and snacks to scarf down . There are also tons of solar eclipse souvenirs that capture the moment and celebrate how cool space really is.