Eclipse overview

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will be the first total solar eclipse to move across the continent since 2017. It will be the world’s longest land-based solar eclipse in over a decade, spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the North Atlantic. 

The eclipse will start south of Hawaii, cross into Mexico, then travel through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and then into Canada.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. During this, the moon completely blocks the sun and darkens the sky. 

When the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun, it is called totality. 

The entire total solar eclipse lasts a few hours, but totality will only last a few minutes.

What will we see in Connecticut? 

A total solar eclipse only happens in any given location once every 375 years on average so getting one to move through Connecticut is very rare. Though the solar eclipse will not reach totality here in Connecticut, it will still be an incredible sight with about 90 to 95 percent of the sun covered by the moon.

The eclipse will begin at 2:13 p.m. with the peak happening just before 3:30 p.m. If you’re viewing the eclipse in Connecticut, you’ll need to keep your viewing glasses on the entire time.

Previous eclipses in Connecticut

A part of Connecticut was in the path of totality for the eclipse on June 16, 1806. 

Most of the state was also in the path of totality for the eclipse on January 25, 1925.

A partial eclipse was seen from Connecticut on May 10, 1994, when the sun was about 85 percent covered.

In 2017, there was another eclipse, but the sun wasn’t covered nearly as much. 

Future eclipses in Connecticut

The next solar eclipse in Connecticut will be on May 1, 2079. You may want to wake up early though because it will start around 5:40 a.m. During that eclipse, the entire state will be in totality.