It’s time to book your trip to see the ‘Great North American Eclipse’

Now is the time to finalize your plans to experience totality. Here’s how. 

On April 8, millions of Americans will witness a rare astronomical event—a total solar eclipse. The moon will partially eclipse the sun across North America, but only within a narrow 115-mile path of totality will it be total. This phenomenon, an alignment of the moon, Earth and sun, a remarkable phenomenon that rarely visits the same place twice—and a sensory experience like no other. 

What to expect during a total solar eclipse

• Darkness in the day for a few minutes. 
• Plunging temperatures. 
• Strange animal behavior. 
• A breathtaking naked-eye view of the sun’s corona. 
• A beautiful “diamond ring effect” around the moon. 

When and where will the total solar eclipse take place? 

On Monday, April 8, the narrow path of totality will cross parts of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. In the U.S., the path will enter Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. To experience totality, you’ll need to be inside the path. 

Popular places to witness the total solar eclipse

Many are heading for Texas because it has the best chance of a clear sky in April (around 50%), which gradually drops as the path heads northeast. GreatAmericanEclipse.com predicts that Texas (Dallas, Waco, and the Hill Country) could see a million visitors while Indiana and Ohio could see up to half a million people each. Next comes Upstate New York, with cities like Rochester and Buffalo as key locations within the path of totality. 

Checklist for planning a trip to see the total solar eclipse

• Check if your location is in the path using this interactive map. 
• Get a preview of what you’ll see using this eclipse simulator. 
• Get a full schedule, including the all-important time of totality, using this eclipse look-up. 
• Book a spot in the campsites, RV parks, public observing events, watch parties, and more on The Eclipse Company’s excellent interactive map, NationalEclipse.com, and the GreatAmericanEclipse.com smartphone app. 
• Think about what kind of eclipse experience you want and who you want to share it with

Image credit: Pexels