Exactly 89 days after this month’s new moon on Thursday, January 11 a total solar eclipse will occur across North America. However, this month’s new moon is the biggest “solar eclipse miss” of 2024, according to Timeanddate.
A new moon occurs when our natural satellite is roughly between Earth and the sun, so lost in its glare, only to emerge the following evening in the west as a slim crescent moon visible for a short while after sunset. This month the new moon will miss the sun by almost five degrees—around 10 times the width of the sun in the sky—making it the biggest “solar eclipse miss” of the year.
However, in just three lunations (orbits of the moon around Earth), the moon will perfectly block the sun. Here’s how it works:
Eclipse Seasons
For a solar eclipse to occur, conditions need to be exactly right. The moon’s orbital path around Earth is tilted by 5 percent with respect to the path of the sun through the sky (the ecliptic). Of course, that means that the two orbital paths do cross—must cross—but only when that occurs at new moon can a solar eclipse result.
That can only happen during an eclipse season, which occurs every 173 days, for between 31 and 37 days. During that short season, two—and occasionally three—solar and lunar eclipses can occur.
Eclipse Of The Moon
Before April’s total solar eclipse, half the planet will see a slight penumbral lunar eclipse, whihc can only happen at full moon. Viewers in North and South America, Europe, East Asia, Australia and New Zealand will see the moon enter Earth’s shadow in space as the full moon crosses the ecliptic. The moon will begin to be eclipsed on Monday, March 25 from 00:53 a.m. EDT until 05:32 a.m. EDT, with a maximum eclipse at 03:12 a.m. EDT.
The effect of a penumbral lunar eclipse will be to make the full moon appear dimmer. That may not sound very exciting, but a penumbral lunar eclipse is a strange and alluring sight—and worth seeing if you love the moon.
Total Solar Eclipse
Everyone in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will see something of the solar eclipse on April 8, but only those in the narrow path of totality will witness a total solar eclipse—when the moon perfectly blocks all of the sun’s light, turning darkness into day for up to 4 minutes 28 seconds.
The 115 miles wide (on average) path of totality will cross parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. In the U.S., about 31 million people live within the path of totality. Another 10 million live within its boundaries in Mexico and Canada. Everyone else in North America will see just a partial solar eclipse.
Crescent Moon Appears
That’s something to look forward to for spring, but for now watch the crescent moon emerge from this week’s “eclipse miss.” After sunset on Friday, January 12, have a look to the west after dark and you may spot a slim three percent-lit crescent moon—surely one of the most beautiful sights in nature. But a poor second to experiencing a a total solar eclipse.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
