For US residents, the last time the moon looked at the sun was in May 2012, leaving behind a burning orb at its edges.
In case you missed it, the next annular eclipse in the US won’t be until 2039 when it passes over Alaska. Within the lower 48 states, the next one won’t happen until 2046, and only parts of southern Oregon, northern California, extreme northwestern Nevada, and southwestern Idaho could see it.
This eclipse will show a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, stretching from Texas to Maine. Over four minutes, the moon will completely cover the sun, leaving a phantom-like glow in the sky. On that day, sky watchers will enjoy a view of night during day. A total solar eclipse occurs only once every 375 years at a particular location.
In the entire universe, Earth is the only place to have total solar and annular eclipses, said NASA astronaut Tony Rice.
“It’s a great opportunity to get a sense of your place in the solar system — especially when you see the difference between the annular eclipse in October and the total eclipse in April — which shows the varying distance of the moon,” Rice said.
