Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024
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What is a Solar Eclipse?
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross over North America and will pass over Massachusetts between 2pm and 4pm. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. The sky will darken during this time. This will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States until the year 2044.
How can I safely view the Solar Eclipse?
Viewing a solar eclipse can be exciting and we want you and your family to enjoy one of nature’s grandest spectacles. So how do your safely view the solar eclipse?
First, do not look directly at the sun without NASA approved viewing glasses. Regular sunglasses will not keep your eyes safe. If you do not have approved viewing glasses, there are other methods to view the eclipse. For example, with your back to the Sun, cross the outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of the other, creating a waffle pattern. In your hands’ shadow on the ground, the spaces between your fingers will show the Sun as crescents. You can also use a colander found in most homes. If you hold the colander with your back to the Sun, images of the eclipse project on to the pavement or a wall. Please remind your children NOT to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.
Additional Resources
Watch Live with NASA
Watch the total solar eclipse live with NASA as it moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Want more information about eclipses?
An eclipse is an awe-inspiring celestial event that drastically changes the appearance of the two biggest objects we see in our sky: our Sun and Moon. On Earth, people can experience solar and lunar eclipses when Earth, the Moon, and the Sun line up.
More information on eclipse safety
Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.