Prepare Your Community for the Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing through towns and cities in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., more than 30 million people from parts of Texas to Maine reside in the path of totality and will experience the dark sky associated with the total eclipse. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely blocks the face of the Sun, by passing between the Sun and Earth. The next total eclipse visible in the contiguous United States will be 20 years later, in 2044. Outside of the path of totality, others will experience a partial eclipse.
Explore this page to find information and resources on eclipses, including classroom activities, and how to view one safely. Determine whether your city will be in the path of totality, and if so, how to get involved in eclipse citizen science projects.
Your Guide to the Solar Eclipse
The March issue of Science News Explores contains a special听 section devoted to the upcoming eclipse that is available online to everyone to download.
Classroom Activity
This activity will help students learn more about eclipses and how to communicate scientific information through the creation of a video about the upcoming total eclipse on April 8, 2024. Students will practice summarizing information from a variety of Science News Media Group articles听and will use their writing skills to create an informative script for their video. For those in the solar eclipse鈥檚 path, the video will also discuss where to watch the eclipse and how to get involved in community education projects.
Get Involved and Learn Eclipse Science
This is what happens when a celestial body moves into the shadow of another.
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Certified eyeware will protect against permanent harm to the eyes.
Science News Explores,听 Author:
High solar activity means opportunities abound for amateurs during the next U.S. eclipse.
Science News, Author:
Total Solar Eclipse Safety
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (鈥渆clipse glasses鈥�) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times.
Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer 鈥� the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
Do NOT use eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras, binoculars, or telescopes. Those require different types of solar filters.
Order Certified Eclipse Safety Glasses