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Eclipse chasing and stargazing are made for each other . A totalsolar occultation — which will be visiblein parting of North America on April 8 — can happen only during a novel synodic month , when our natural satellite moves between Earth and the sun . Besides causing an eclipse , this arrangement also means that the moonlight is in the daytime sky , which means there ’s no moonlight at night . That micturate the nighttime sky around an eclipse perfect for stargazing and astronomy . ( Here arefour astronomic observatories and telescopesin the path of the eclipse . )
However , clear night skies are not undertake on April 8 ; a lack of moonlight at dark is one thing , but lite pollution can well ware wanted darkness around a new moon and ruin potential stargazing .
Light pollution and stargazing locations within and close to the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Although low-cal pollution does n’t affect the precious moment of totality — when the sun ’s Saint Elmo’s fire will be seeable for a few moment while a sudden darkness falls in the day — it does impair stargazing and astronomy . In fact , a composition write in January 2023 in the journalSciencerevealed that the sky ’s cleverness at night is increasing by 10.4 % every class .
April ’s total solar eclipse will be visible only within the 115 - mile - all-inclusive ( 185 km ) path of total , which will elongate from northwestern Mexico to southeastern Canada via voice of five Mexican states , 15 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces . That route covers many big metropolis , including Mazatlán , Mexico ; Austin , Texas ; Dallas ; Indianapolis ; Cleveland ; and Montreal .
However , it also get over a few rural region of North America where light pollution is at low level . If you want to see the total eclipse as well as dark-skinned night skies , the best choice is to lead for one of these orbit .
Map of solar eclipses over North America in 2023-2024. The path or the April 8, 2024 eclipse runs diagonally from Mexico up through eastern Canada, crossing 15 U.S. states in between.
Related : full solar occultation April 2024 : The 10 big cities within the track of totality
The most obvious places to aim for are International Dark Sky parks and taciturnity — protect areas that strictly set weak pollution to encourage skywatching and protect the local ecosystem — that descend inside the path of totality .
On April 8 , International Dark Sky Places within the itinerary of totality includeSouth Llano River State Park , Enchanted Rock State Natural Area , Milton Reimers Ranch Park , UBarU Camp and Retreat CenterandLyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park(all in Texas Hill Country ) andGeauga Observatory Parkin Ohio .
Other parks near to the path includeMiddle Fork River Forest Preservein Illinois , Dr. T.K. Lawless County Parkin Michigan , Cherry Springs State Parkin Pennsylvania andAMC Maine Woodsin Maine . Most of these destinations ' camping area will be booked for the nighttime around the occultation , but you may be capable to find a land site a few days before or ( more likely ) after the eclipse , if you contrive on travel anyway .
— April 8 solar occultation : 4 telescope and lookout station where you may watch out totality
— These eclipse - theme places will experience totality on April 8 , 2024
— full solar eclipse April 2024 : The 10 biggest metropolis within the path of totality
An promiscuous elbow room of instantly seeing in force stargazing locations within and close to the path of totality is to look atthis interactive Google Mapof the path , make by eclipse cartographer Xavier Jubier . In the top - right turning point , you may toggle the display to show " Night Sky Brightness . " Do that , and you ’ll see that some regions stand out for having dismal skies at nighttime , admit the Texas Hill Country , the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas , southeastern Missouri , the Adirondacks in northeastern New York , northerly Maine , and New Brunswick and Newfoundland in Canada .
The probability of a open sky at nighttime in April are the highest in Texas .
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