A total solar eclipse is coming to the U.S.—but not everyone is invited. On Monday, April 8, the moon will be close enough to Earth to appear just larger than the sun as it crosses its disk, casting a shadow that will move across the planet at about 1,500 mph.
About 90% of the U.S. population will see only a partial solar eclipse on April 8, with only those in a narrow, 115-mile-wide path of totality set to experience sudden darkness in the day for a few minutes—and the brief chance to gaze naked-eye at the sun’s corona.
It’s an unmissable experience, but you need to get yourself to the path of totality to see it (and stay well clear of the worst places to watch on the edge of the path).
Here are the 13 U.S. states significantly touched by the path of totality—which includes a whopping 32 million people and multiple big cities—and the times to watch the eclipse, in order of how the moon’s shadow will move from southwest to northeast across the nation:
1. Texas
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:27-1:49 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 26 seconds
Key locations in the path: Austin, San Antonio (northwestern suburbs only), Dallas, and Waco.
2. Oklahoma
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:44-1:51 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 21 seconds
Key locations in the path: Broken Bow, Idabel, Hugo and Antlers.
3. Arkansas
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:45-2:00 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 19 seconds
Key locations in the path: Texarkana, Hot Springs, Little Rock and Russellville.
4. Missouri
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:53-2:02 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 12 seconds
Key locations in the path: Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff and Perryville.
5. Kentucky
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:58-2:01 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 16 seconds
Key locations in the path: Paducah.
6. Illinois
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:58-2:06 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 9 seconds
Key locations in the path (and links to eclipse websites): Carbondale.
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:01-3:12 p.m. EDT, 4 minutes 5 seconds
Key locations in the path: Vincennes, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, Richmond and Wayne County and Terre Haute.
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:08-3:19 p.m. EDT, 3 minutes 59 seconds
Key locations in the path: Dayton, Toledo, Cleveland, Bowling Green and Akron.
9. Pennsylvania
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:15-3:20 p.m. EDT, 3 minutes 44 seconds
Key locations in the path: Erie, Erie Bluffs State Park, Lake Erie.
10. New York
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:16-3:29 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 42 seconds
Key locations in the path: Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse and Plattsburgh.
11. Vermont
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:25-3:31 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 33 seconds
Key locations in the path: Burlington, Montpelier, St Albans City, Williston, Newport and St Johnsbury.
12. New Hampshire
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:28-3:31 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 29 seconds
Key locations in the path: Colebrook.
13. Maine
Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:28-3:35 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 27 seconds
Key locations in the path: Jackman and Houlton.
For the latest on all aspects of April 8’s total solar eclipse in North America, check my main feed for new articles each day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.