MAINE, USA —
Mark your calendars! Or your phones, whichever works. A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality crosses the U.S., and officially ends right here in Maine.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light. Some parts of Maine will have total blockage of the sun.
The eclipse will begin in western Maine around 2:15 p.m. Totality is reached around 3:30 p.m. in western Maine, with the eclipse wrapping up around 4:30 p.m. A similar timeline is expected in eastern Maine, though it will be 10 to 20 minutes later.
The path through the U.S. will start in Texas and it ends here. The best spots to see it in New England will be in northern Vermont, northern New Hampshire, and a rather large area in our home state.
Some Maine areas of interest that will be in the path of totality include: The Rangeley Lakes region, Moosehead Lake, Baxter State Park, Jackman, Caribou, Lincoln, Millinocket, and Presque Isle.
If you do not travel but still live in Maine, most of the state will still be close to a total eclipse. According to NASA, Portland will be 96.41% obscured, Augusta will be 98.31% obscured, and Bangor will be 99.01% obscured.
In order to view the solar eclipse, you will need special solar eclipse glasses. These will help to prevent damage to your eyes. The glasses will be similar to the ones used for the 2017 total solar eclipse.
While total solar eclipses happen on earth every one or two years, it is not often that they take the same path. In other words, this is a rare event for Maine and it will be a long time until the next one has a path of totality across Maine.
The next one that crosses Maine will be in the southern and eastern part of the state and occur on May 1, 2079.
It’s four years out, but hopefully the weather will cooperate for us!
