Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse Dates for 2024 (2024)

When is the next eclipse of the Sun? And when is the next eclipse of the Moon? Here is your 2024 Eclipse Calendar with the dates and information for both solar and lunar eclipses. Plus, we’ll explain the different types ofeclipses.

Eclipses for2024

In 2024 we’ll have four eclipses (two of the Sun and two of the Moon).

Note that eclipses have a “season”—one of these many celestial cycles. Two of the eclipses take place in the spring season, and two eclipses in the fall. Eclipse seasons repeat (just shy of) every six calendar months.

Eclipses of the Sun (solar) are visible only in certain areas and require eye protection to be viewed safely. Learn how to view a solar eclipse safely.
Eclipses of the Moon (lunar) are technically visible from the entire night side of Earth, but during a penumbral eclipse, the dimming of the Moon’s illumination isslight.

Eclipses in2024

March 24 to 25: Penumbral Eclipse of theMoon

This eclipse is visible from North America. The Moon will enter the penumbra at 12:51 A.M. EDT on March 25 (9:51 P.M. PDT, March 24) and leave it at 5:35 A.M. EDT (2:35 A.M. PDT).

April 8, 2024: Total Eclipse of theSun

This eclipse is visible from North America (except for Alaska). The narrow path of totality in the U.S. extends across America, northeast from Texas toMaine.

In the U.S., the total solar eclipse crosses primarily through parts of Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and NewHampshire.
In Canada, it runs from southern Ontario to the island of Newfoundland, crossing through parts of southern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Prince EdwardIsland.

For most other regions of North America, a partial eclipse will be visible. It is safe to look directly at the eclipse only during the brief period of totality. At all other times, you will need “eclipse glasses” with special-purpose solar filters or a handheld solar filter.

The total solar eclipse is relatively long, with a duration of totality lasting 4.47 minutes. It will begin at 11:42 A.M. EDT and end at 4:52 P.M. EDT. Here are moredetails:

Total Solar EclipseTimes

Partial eclipse begins: at 15:42 UTC (11:42 a.m. EDT) on April8.
Total eclipse begins: at 16:38 UTC (12:38 p.m. EDT) on April8.
MAXIMUM eclipse: at 18:17 UTC (2:17 p.m. EDT) on April8.
Total eclipse ends: at 19:55 UTC (3:55 p.m. EDT) on April8.
Partial eclipse ends: at 20:52 UTC (4:52 p.m. EDT) on April8.

See Bob Berman’s Complete Guide to the Total Solar Eclipse of2024!

September 17 to 18: Partial Eclipse of theMoon

Visible from most of North America, this is primarily a penumbral eclipse. On September 17, the Moon will enter the penumbra at 8:39 P.M. EDT (5:39 P.M. PDT) and the umbra at 10:12 P.M. EDT (7:12 P.M. PDT). It will leave the umbra at 11:17 P.M. EDT (8:17 P.M. PDT) on September 17 and the penumbra at 12:49 A.M. EDT on September 18 (9:49 P.M. PDT, September17).

October 2, 2024: Annular Eclipse of theSun

This eclipse is not visible from North America, although a partial eclipse will be visible from Hawaii. It will begin at 5:43 A.M. and end at 11:47 A.M. (HAT).

Difference Between Solar and LunarEclipses

See below for explanations of the different types ofeclipses.

What is a LunarEclipse?

During alunar eclipse, the Moon appears dark or dimmed. This happens because the Earth is positioned exactly between the Moon and the Sun, blocking much of the sunlight from reaching the Moon’s surface. Instead, Earth’s shadow is cast upon the Moon’s surface.

Sometimes, the Moon appears reddish-orange during an eclipse. This is because some of the light from the Sun makes it through Earth’s atmosphere. But only longer wavelengths make it; these are the red and orangecolors.

A lunar eclipse only happens on the full Moon. The eclipse is technically visible from the entire night side of Earth, but during a penumbral eclipse, the dimming of the Moon’s illumination isslight.

Learn more about lunar terminology.

What is a SolarEclipse?

During a solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun from view. The Moon, Earth, and Sun are aligned with the Moon stuck in the middle. If the alignment is perfect, the Moon completely blocks our view of the Sun, casting its dark shadow on Earth. If the alignment is a little off-center, the Moon may just partially block our view of theSun.

Though lunar eclipses and solar eclipses happen with the same frequency (about 4 to 7 times a year, in total), it’s rare to see a solar eclipse since they are only visible from a small area of Earth each time.Solar eclipses are visible only in certain areas and require eye protection to be viewedsafely.

The next total solar eclipse to visit North America will be on April 8, 2024. The duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds! More news to come on that bigevent!

Follow this advice to make sure you watch solar eclipsessafely.

More Types ofEclipses

Not all eclipses are the same. There are a few different ways for lunar and solar eclipses tohappen:

A total eclipse (of either the Moon or the Sun) occurs when the Moon or Sunis entirely blocked out.
- During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is completely obscured by the dark center of Earth’s shadow (called the umbra), giving the Moon a dark, reddishhue.
- During a total solar eclipse, the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon, resulting in a brief period of awe-inspiringdarkness.
A partial eclipse (of either the Moon or the Sun) occurs when only part of the Moon or Sun isobscured.
An annular eclipse is a type of solar eclipse. Annular eclipses are similar to total solar eclipses (where the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon), but in an annular eclipse, the Moon’s apparent size is smaller than the Sun’s, meaning that the Sun is not completely obscured. This results in a very bright ring of lightcalled anannulus.
A penumbral eclipse is a type of lunar eclipse. Penumbral eclipses occur when the Moon enters only the faint outer edge of Earth’s shadow (called the penumbra), which causes the Moon to appear slightly darker than usual. The effect is so slight that a penumbral eclipsecan be hard to recognize unless you know to look forit!

You can read more about the types of solar eclipses here.

More Information AboutEclipses

Eclipse History: Total Solar Eclipses in the UnitedStates
Solar Eclipse Folklore, Myths, andSuperstitions
Observing the Total Eclipse: What to LookFor