Lots of Details About the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse for Those Who Want to Know!
Click Figures to Enlarge in New Windows
GO DOWN PAGE FOR:
Eclipse Summary
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Eclipse Path/Weather •
Eclipse Sky
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Circumstances
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Magnetic Dec.
AND SEE:
The Saros Cycle
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Additional Sky Events to See During Cruise
• "Fun Facts" for Day of Eclipse
Figure 1. Animation of the 2023 April 8 Total Solar Eclipse Path.
Shows path of Moon's shadows sweeping across global map of Earth. (Vantage point as seen from Moon.)
Small black dot shows umbral shadow where totality occurs as it moves along path of totality (yellow).
Moon's large, pale penumbral shadow (showing location of partial eclipses) appears as lightly shaded circle and is outlined with solid black edge.
Path of totality moves from Pacific Ocean through Mexico and Texas continuing through the Northeast USA where the path exits Maine. Animation also shows rotation of Earth. Several major USA cities lie in the path of totality (as Dallas/Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Buffalo & Rochester. This eclipse belongs to Saros Cycle 139.
(Credit Attribution: Global Map Animation of Eclipse courtesy of Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com & Fred Espenak, EclipseWise.com.)
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ECLIPSE SUMMARY
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada (see Fig. 1, 2 & 3 for path).
This is the last total eclipse of the Sun for the lower USA until 2044 Aug. 23, which and has only limited visibility for the USA. (The 2044 path comes south out of western Canada and ends near sunset in Montana and North Dakota maximum duration about two minutes in the N.W. Territories.)
So, the 2024 eclipse is not to be missed! Maximum duration of totality is also relatively long (abt. 4m28s) occurring over central Mexico (Fig. 3). This eclipse also crosses much of the USA from Texas to Maine. The path of totality crossing several major cities as Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and Rochester. It is likely more people will have the opportunity to experience this eclipse than the 2017 USA eclipse. (See Eclipse Sky & Circumstances below for eclipse details.)
Mexico has the least average April cloud cover (Fig. 4) with Texas the best weather area for the USA. Weather prospects dim rapidly as the path moves northeast over the USA. In fact, recent weather analysis by meteorologist Jay Anderson suggests the effects of El Niño may improve the chances of clear weather.
Holland America's Zaandam will observe the eclipse off the western coast of Mexico where totality is near maximum and weather prospects are among the best for the eclipse path. Moderate temperatures and usually dry weather should prevail (Fig. 5).
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Figure 2. Topographic Map of Eclipse Across North America. Path moves in from Pacific Ocean, crosses Mexico and enters USA in Texas moving northeast through mid-west into New York exiting USA in Maine. (Credit: ay Anderson eclipsophile.com)
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Figure 3. Eclipse Path Through Mexico. Intended position for observing eclipse from Zaandam is offshore south of Mazatlán large black circle. (Credit: Adapted from Jay Anderson eclipsophile.com)
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Figure 4. Average April Cloud Cover for North America. Notice Western Mexico has the lowest average cloud cover where the Holland America Zaandam will observe the eclipse off shore from Mazatlán. Opens in New Window. The effects of El Niño may improve the chances of clear weather. (Credit: Jay Anderson: eclipsophile.com
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Figure 5. Example April Weather Stats. Use this table to help plan clothing for your trip. (Click table to enlarge.) Zaandam departs/returns to San Diego. Ship sails south along western Mexican and eastern Baja California coasts. (See Itinerary Map.)
Cool evenings and moderate to warm day temperatures normal. Rain probability is low.
Get a PDF copy of this table opens in new window.
(Credit: Climates For Travel)
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Figure 6. Eclipse Sky. (Click to enlarge.) Simulated view of the eclipse sky during totality (using stereographic projection) as seen from the Zaandam's intended location (near Mazatlán) off the western coast of Mexico.
An eerie sunlight glow should surround the horizon due to sunshine beyond Earth's umbral shadow.
Except Venus and Jupiter, most planets and stars will be difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye, especially Mercury (very faint), and Betelgeuse, Rigel and Achernar (all very low). Notice, however, the close separation of Mars and Saturn (about 1-1/2º or three moon diameters)!
One of brightest known periodic comets, 12P/Pons-Brooks will be in the eclipse sky (about one-quarter of the way from Jupiter to the eclipsed Sun). See photo on Astronomy Picture of the Day. This Halley-Type Comet (Period 71 yrs.) has had enormous outbursts in 2023 and could reach naked eye visibility in 2024. However, even its predicted April magnitude of about +4.7 (similar to Mercury) and its diffuse nature will likely make it a difficult object even with binoculars. So, don't waste much time looking for it.
The 2024 April eclipse may occur near solar sunspot maximum (so look for sunspots). The Sun's pearly white corona is also typically more symmetrical at this time. (At sunspot minimum the corona is more flattened with long, distinct beams along the Sun's equator.) See examples here. Binoculars or telescope needed with safe solar filter in front of optics.
Click Sky Map to open in a new window. Also, see Labeled Version by keeping cursor on map.
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ECLIPSE SKY
The Sun will be high in the southeastern sky during the eclipse (54 to 74 degrees). In fact, during totality the eclipsed Sun will appear about two-thirds from horizon to overhead (69 degrees), almost exactly southeast. All naked eye planets (Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars) will be in the eclipse sky. However, no planet will be near maximum brightness. In fact, Mercury, only 6 degrees from the Sun, will be too faint to see shining only like a fourth magnitude star.
Some bright winter stars (as Achernar, Rigel and Betelgeuse) will appear very low near the horizon and will be difficult to see due to horizon haze and the bright twilight horizon.
Three first magnitude stars, Capella, Aldebaran and Fomalhaut are higher. However, except bright Capella, higher and brighter than the others, the latter two should appear similar in brightness to Mars and Saturn. Still all are not exceptionally bright.
See Fig. 6 for a simulated sky map of the sky during totality as viewed from the projected location of Holland America's Zaandam (near Mazatlán).
Click the map to enlarge and also view a labeled version by moving the cursor over the enlarged map.
Figure 6 (labeled) shows stellar magnitudes—a measure of stellar brightness where algebraically smaller numbers mean brighter. Do not confuse with eclipse magnitude. (See Note #4 below.)
(Venus outshines all other planets and stars at magnitude -3.9 or about six times brighter than Jupiter, next brightest.)
Want a printable early April evening constellation star chart?
Download Here
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Approximate Stellar Magnitudes & Altitudes for Planets & Some Stars During Totality
Warning: Concentrate on the Eclipse & spend little time looking for planets & stars!
Planet |
Mag. |
Alt. |
Visibilty? |
Star |
Mag. |
Alt. |
Visibilty? |
Venus |
-3.9 |
67° |
Very Good |
Capella |
+0.1 |
26° |
Difficult |
Jupiter |
-2.0 |
49° |
Good |
Rigel |
+0.2 |
10° |
Very Difficult |
Mars |
+1.2 |
54° |
Difficult? |
Betelgeuse |
+0.5 |
7° |
Very Difficult |
Saturn |
+1.1 |
55° |
Difficult? |
Achernar |
+0.5 |
8° |
Very Difficult |
Mercury |
+4.8? |
69° |
Impossible? |
Aldebaran |
+0.9 |
28° |
Difficult? |
12P/Pons-Brooks |
+4.7? |
55° |
Impossible? |
Fomalhaut |
+1.2 |
35° |
Difficult? |
Separations: SunMercury 6° •
SunVenus 15° •
SunJupiter 30° •
SunSaturn/Mars 36° •
MarsSaturn 1.5°
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CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN
Monday, 2024 April 8
(For Those Who Like Details)
Circumstances Depend On Ship's Exact Location at Time of Eclipse
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Observing Location |
Off-shore & West of Mazatlán on
Mexico's West Coast |
Latitude (approximate) |
22° 55.5' N |
Longitude (approximate) |
106° 20.9' W |
Time Zone Difference* |
-7h (7h earlier than UT) |
Sunrise (on eclipse day) |
05:51 a.m. MT1 (Azimuth 82°) |
Sun Transit (on eclipse day) |
12:07 p.m. MT1 (Alt. 75°; Azimuth 180°) |
Sunset (on eclipse day) |
06:24 p.m. MT1 (Azimuth 279°) |
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Eclipse Times & Sun's Position |
Local Time1,2 |
Altitude3 |
Azimuth3 |
Partial Eclipse Begins (1st Contact) |
09:51 a.m. (16:51 UT) |
+54° |
110° |
Totality Begins (2nd Contact) |
11:07 a.m. (18:07 UT) |
+69° |
134° |
Mid-Eclipse |
11:09 a.m. (18:09 UT) |
+69° |
136° |
Totality Ends (3rd Contact) |
11:11 a.m. (18:11 UT) |
+70° |
137° |
Partial Eclipse Ends (4th Contact) |
12:32 p.m. (19:32 UT) |
+73° |
202° |
Ref. & Cred. for Eclipse Data: Xavier Jubier (xjubier.free.fr/en)
Click for Explanation (Neg. if West)
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MAGNETIC DECLINATION
(Compass Deviation from True North)
Need if want to know deviation of compass from true north for ship's location on eclipse day (angle on horizontal plane between magnetic north & true north).
VALUE: +6.6° (EAST). See Enlarged Detailed Illustration for expected observing location of ship.
(Ref. NOAA).
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Information About Totality |
Duration2 |
4m 27s |
Eclipse Magnitude4 |
1.0282 |
Eclipse Obscuration5 |
100.0% |
Moon/Sun Size Ratio |
1.0565 |
Shadow Width |
124 mi. (199 km) |
Shadow Velocity |
About 1,562 mi/h or 0.434 mi/s
(2,513 km/h or 0.698 km/s) |
NOTES
1Local Zone Times given here are on Mazatlán Time (MT or Mountain Standard Time), which is 7h earlier than Greenwich or Universal Time (UT). Mazatlán does not now observe daylight time.
2Eclipse Times are approximate and depend on precise location with maximum eclipse duration also depending on several factors including unknown corrections for the Earth's rotation and lunar limb profiles. Typically actual values may differ by about a second.
3Altitude & Azimuth Altitude is angular distance in degrees measured vertically from an ideal horizon. (If negative, object is below horizon.) Azimuth is angular distance in degrees measured along the horizon measured from north (azimuth 0°) toward the east so the east point has an azimuth of 90°.
4Magnitude here for the eclipsed Sun refers to the eclipse magnitude (fraction of solar diameter hidden) and not the stellar magnitude of a celestial object.
Stellar magnitudes are a measure of brightness. A difference of one stellar magnitude is about 2-1/2 times in brightness (the fifth root of 100). Algebraically smaller numbers means brighter so mag. +1 is about 2-1/2 times brighter than mag. +2. (Note the illustration of the eclipse sky above, Fig. 6, shows stellar magnitudes.)
5Obscuration refers to the fraction of the Sun's area covered by the Moon.
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