2:00 pm
April 8, 2024.A total solar eclipse. Scroll to let the moon in.
2:14:32 pm · First contactA small bite out of the sun's edge. Nothing looks different yet.
3:00 pm · Half the sun goneStill bright. The light goes thin and silvery; shadows get sharp edges.
3:25 pm · The last sliverIt gets cold. Birds go quiet.
3:26:50 pm · The diamond ringThe last bead of sunlight, then it's gone.
Totality1 minute 23 seconds. Stars in the afternoon, and sunset all the way around the horizon.
3:28:13 pm · Diamond ring, againThe sun comes back from the other side.
4:36:56 pm · Last contactAnd then it was an ordinary afternoon.
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What I saw

The whole eclipse, as it happened.

Next total solar eclipse

August 2, 2027

Spain, Morocco, Egypt · up to 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality

In the animation: Lake Sherburne, Glacier National Park, by Jacob W. Frank, NPS (public domain). Moon: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University, LRO (public domain). Corona: Anthony Fossey.