When Can You See the Next Two Solar Eclipses in the US (and Where to Watch Them)
The next 12 months will be amazing for solar eclipse lovers. Residents across North America will be able to watch two different eclipses – one in western North America in October 2023, and the other in the eastern part of the continent in April 2024.
Eclipse number one, an annular solar eclipse (i.e. one in which the edge of the sun remains visible) will be visible on October 14, 2023 from Oregon to Texas. Approximately 6.6 million people live along the path of the eclipse. It will be visible in Eugene, Oregon, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Corpus Christi, Texas, and everywhere in between.
The second eclipse will be total – the entire sun will appear to be out of breath – and can be seen on April 8, 2024 from Mazatlán, Mexico to Newfoundland, Canada. The path of this eclipse will pass through a much more densely populated part of the continent, including Dallas, Montreal and Indianapolis. About 31.6 million people live on total eclipse path number two, and more than half of the US population lives within 250 miles of it.
The lucky ones in and around San Antonio live at the point where the two lines converge, and they will be able to see both eclipses without traveling.
Cool places to see solar eclipses
If you’re planning a trip to see the eclipse, book now: astronomy fans are organized people, so I guess the main viewing spots are either already booked or filling up quickly.
Speaking of the best places to watch a solar eclipse, below are some ideas for skywatching.
See the eclipse in the national park
The October eclipse passes over a number of national parks, which are great places to observe solar phenomena. Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park is breathtaking even when the sun gets partially dark, and Nevada’s Great Basin National Park is known for its incredibly dark night skies if you want to add a bit of stargazing to your eclipse viewing.
Two national parks are in the path of total eclipse 2024: Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio. Both are wonderful, I’m sure.
See the eclipse in the stadium
If you prefer to watch the eclipse in a crowd, there are several stadiums along the way that have hosted eclipse viewing events in the past, often with experienced astronomers explaining what is going on and convincing the superstitious members of the crowd that the sun will reappear. soon. According to skyandtelescope.org , Major League Baseball’s Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas and Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio are on the path of an eclipse in April 2024. Nelson Wolf Municipal Stadium in San Antonio is in the path of the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses.
See the eclipse from the top of the mountain
If you’re in a sporty mood, you can’t beat the view of the eclipse from the top of the mountain. The eclipse of 2023 can be seen from the summits of Wheeler Peak and Mount Moriah in Nevada, Delano Peak in Utah, and Lake Peak in New Mexico, which are over 12,000 feet high. The difficulty of travel will surely cut down on the number of other spectators. In 2024, Cerro Gorda in Mexico or Mount Katahdin in Maine will offer the best places to see a total solar eclipse.
See the eclipse from the zoo
Sky and Telescope notes that an eclipse gives you an opportunity to test the hypothesis that animals behave strangely during it, so you might want to schedule a visit to a zoo such as Albuquerque Biopark, Cleveland Metropark Zoo, Buffalo Zoological Gardens, or Quebec Safari Park .
Waiting for future eclipses
If you want to plan ahead, notable eclipse locations and dates in the coming years include Spain in 2026, North Africa in 2027, Australia and New Zealand in 2028, and Africa and Australia in 2030, according to Great American Eclipse .