Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024

The Earth is in a very interesting astronomical position because the Moon (about 230,000 miles away) appears to be the same size in the sky as the Sun (about 93,000,000 miles away). As the Moon orbits the Earth and the Earth orbits the Sun, sometimes those orbits cross. If the Moon is at just the right angle, it will pass directly in front of the Sun, causing its shadow to fall in a small area on the Earth. Because they appear to be the same size, the Moon covers the Sun completely so that only its corona is visible. This is a total solar eclipse, and happens every year or two around the world. But unless you are an eclipse chaser, it may be a phenomenon that you only get to see once or twice in a lifetime.

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2045, and the next annular eclipse will be in 2077!  The April 8 eclipse will be located mostly in the Eastern half of the U.S. and will be about 50% totality in Utah. But if you can't travel, it will still be pretty cool!