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Public engagement resources for the Monday April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse
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Solar Eclipses

Solar eclipse hero without text overlay
Photo Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.

A total solar eclipse is coming to North America!

  • Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be seen in the US from Texas to Maine; all of North America will have at least a partial solar eclipse.
  • How Can You See It?
    You never want to look directly at the sun without appropriate protection.  That could severely hurt your eyes. However, there are numerous safe ways to view an eclipse.  Please see safe viewing techniques below.

Children watching solar eclipse with safety viewers surrounded by paper plates

Resources


 

NASA solar eclipse diagram showing positions of Earth Moon and the Sun

What is a solar eclipse?

During a solar eclipse the the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the Sun. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon lines up perfectly to fully block the Sun; in a partial solar eclipse, the Moon only blocks part of the Sun; and during an annular eclipse, alignment is perfect but the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely obscure the Sun. 

This is different from a lunar eclipse, when the Earth blocks most of the sunlight that normally reaches the Moon. In a solar eclipse, the Sun gets darker; in a lunar eclipse, the Moon gets darker.  Visit our lunar eclipse page to learn more.Watch this NASA video to learn more about the different roles of the Moon in lunar and solar eclipses.

More about solar eclipses: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses


 

Solar Eclipse NASA United States map April 8th 2024 created by NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Solar eclipse map showing where the Moon’s shadow will cross the U.S. during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse.
Different versions and higher resolutions available for download: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5123/
Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Maps and Times

April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse (Monday)

More Upcoming Eclipses


 

 

Solar Eclipse ativity with young museum visitors at 2017 Science Museum of Minnesota Earth Day event

Hands-on Activities During Your Event


 

Two young learners using the DIY Sun Science app

At-Home Activities and Apps

  • DIY Sun Science App 
    DIY Sun Science includes 15 easy-to-use hands-on activities to learn about the Sun and its important relationship with Earth. Learn how to cook in a solar oven, measure the size of the Sun, or explore shadows in model Moon craters! Each activity includes step-by-step instructions that have been tested by educators, kids, and families. Activity materials are easily available and inexpensive. PDF versions of hands-on activities are also available for download in both English and Spanish.

 

OMSI solar eclipse event

Safety

You never want to look directly at the sun without appropriate protection.  That could severely hurt your eyes.  However, there are numerous safe ways to view an eclipse.  

An eclipse is a rare and striking phenomenon you won't want to miss, but you must carefully follow safety procedures. It is vital that you protect your eyes at all times. The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are NOT safe for looking at the Sun. 

Person examining shadow patterns from a solar eclipse through a collander

 

Online workshop recordings logo square

Community Event Planning and Preparation

Bulletin of the AAS Celebrating the Wonder of Science in the Shadow 2024 screenshot
Read or download the BAAS special issue articles for free 

 

solar eclipse NASA evergreen fact sheet summarizing safe viewing

Handouts


 

Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert  puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event

Finding STEM Experts

We encourage you to seek out local experts for your public events.  Many astronomy enthusiasts plan to travel to the path of totality, but many will be staying closer to home, so please check out all of these different resources to find experts near you:  


 

Solar Eclipse live stream from the Exploratorium on a mobile phone

Live Streaming of the Solar Eclipse

The Exploratorium will be live streaming the solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024 in multiple formats including on mobile devices; options include telescope imagery without narration as well as educational programming and narration in English and Spanish:


 

Advertisement featuring a hand holding a phone with a colorful app being displayed

Citizen Science and Community Science Projects

A solar eclipse presents many opportunities for amateur astronomers and lifelong learners to get in on the fun of doing science. 


Multimedia - Animations and Visualizations

  • NASA Scientific Visualization Studio animations https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14527/
  • NASA Eyes April 2024 - embeddable, interactive, 3D simulation where you can see what the eclipse would look like from anywhere on the planet, and see exact timing of the different phases.

 

Family using safe solar viewing glasses

Promotional Images and Photos

Images and videos of solar eclipses and people experiencing for educational and promotional purposes


 

solar eclipse dog poster with a dog wearing solar viewing glasses (credit NASA Genna Duberstein)

Posters

 


 

Family watching the solar eclipse safely

Taking Photos and Videos

 


 

NISE Network_Solar Eclipse slide presentation overview showing a partial eclipse of the Sun

Slides


Videos


Schools and Libraries


Planetarium Shows


 

Facilitator discussing eclipses holding models of the Earth and Moon

Training for Staff and Volunteers

 


 

Cover of a Solar Science book featuring an artistic image of a solar eclipse

Books and Booklets


 

Child looking using his hand to feel textures in a tactile book about Earth and space science

Sensory Resources

 


 

Ways of Knowing Solar Eclipses around the world slide from Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Cultural Connections

Night Sky Storytelling