What to Know: The Total Solar Eclipse and States in the Path of Totality

On April 8, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, blocking out the face of the sun in what is known as a total solar eclipse. It will be the last total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous U.S. until 2044.

Those within the so-called path of totality – areas where the moon’s shadow will completely cover the sun – will see the sky significantly darken. They might be able to view the outer atmosphere around the sun, which is usually blocked by the sun’s brightness.

“It’s a moment when millions of people across North America will look to the heavens as the moon passes in front, in between the sun and the Earth, and it’s a rare sight that we haven’t seen in seven years,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the eclipse at a press conference this week. “And unusual things start to happen as the normal rhythms of Earth are disrupted. When you’re seeing this eclipse, you ought to observe this. As the day appears to turn to dusk and then dark, people have heard birds stop singing. They’ve seen giraffes suddenly begin to gallop, roosters start crowing and crickets chirp.”

The path of totality will touch a relative handful of states. But all 48 contiguous states in the U.S. will see at least a partial solar eclipse, which will also be visible across Mexico and most of Canada.

Totality is expected to first be visible in continental North America on the Pacific coast of Mexico shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern time, weather permitting, according to NASA.

Most places in the path of totality will experience it for up to four minutes, and the eclipse will leave continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at about 3:45 p.m. Eastern time.

The below visualization, courtesy of NASA, plots the path of totality:

The path of totality is usually less than 150 miles wide, so not all parts of the listed states will experience it. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse, according to NASA.

The chart below shows a sample of cities that will experience the path of totality.

Eclipse glasses – which are not the same as sunglasses – are required to safely view the eclipse.

“Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury,” NASA says on its website.

The only time it is safe to remove eclipse glasses is when the moon entirely but briefly covers the sun in the path of totality.

Handheld solar viewers can be used instead of glasses. The American Astronomical Society keeps a list of trusted vendors for eclipse glasses and handheld solar filters.

The total solar eclipse provides an opportunity to study the sun’s corona, or the outermost part of its atmosphere. It’s an “elusive region” that can be viewed during the solar eclipse in a “very special way,” according to NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.

“It’s key to understanding fundamental questions about how heat and energy are transferred out into the solar wind, which contributes to our understanding not just of solar dynamics, but also how solar flares and the solar wind will affect life here on Earth,” Melroy said.

Melroy said that the chance of seeing something “amazing” is very high.

“Things are happening with the corona that we don’t fully understand,” she said. “And the eclipse gives us a unique opportunity to collect data that may give insights into the future of our star.”

Additionally, NASA will be examining the moon’s silhouette on the sun, which could help researchers learn more about the sun and its solar active regions.

It’s possible that some states will see a temporary economic boost from the total solar eclipse, which is expected to bring up to 3.7 million visitors into the path of totality on April 8, according to one projection.

Airline travel, rental cars, hotel rooms, campgrounds and restaurants are just a few of the areas where eclipse tourists will be spending their money.

Just the state of Texas alone could see a windfall of up to $1.4 billion, according to an estimate from The Perryman Group.

“Because of the unique nature of the upcoming eclipse, more than one million people are expected to visit Texas to witness the phenomenon,” the group wrote. “From small towns to large population centers, the numbers of visitors are projected to be unusually large. These travelers will spend money locally for accommodations, meals, gasoline and retail items. The result will be a substantial economic stimulus.”