Get Ready For The Next Solar Eclipse Events!
Did you know that there will be two solar eclipses that can be seen in the USA within the next eight months? The United States will be in the path of an Annular Eclipse on October 14, 2023. Other North American destinations will be in the path of the April 8th, 2024 Total Eclipse. What is the difference between an Annular Eclipse and a Total Eclipse? Where can you go to witness both historic events? ADG interviewed Dave Clark, founder of NationalEclipse.com to find out...
Interview with an Eclipse Expert
ADG: Tell us about NationalEclipse.com.
Dave: NationalEclipse.com was launched in 2015 to provide accurate and reliable information for the historic 2017 total solar eclipse in the United States. It quickly became one of the leading online resources about solar eclipses, particularly for the upcoming 2023 annular and 2024 total eclipses in North America. Featuring comprehensive information on the 2023 and 2024 eclipses, as well as information on eclipses in general, thousands of people use NationalEclipse.com to learn more about eclipses and research where and how to view the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. NationalEclipse.com is a U.S.-based independent resource, meaning we're not associated or affiliated with any other scientific, academic, or government organization. Our mission from the beginning has been simple: To help people understand, appreciate, and experience the solar eclipse phenomenon, to provide accurate and reliable information about solar eclipse viewing safety, and to offer advice and guidance to help people plan for and view the 2023 annular solar eclipse and 2024 total solar eclipse in America.
ADG: Do you have any advice for eclipse fans who are interested in seeing the 2023 Annular Eclipse?
Dave: My best advice for the October 2023 annular solar eclipse is not to let it discourage you from seeing the April 2024 total solar eclipse. Although an annular eclipse is generally considered the “next best thing” to a total eclipse, it doesn’t come anywhere near the magnificence of a total eclipse. There is no “totality” during an annular eclipse, the day doesn’t turn dark, and you don’t see or experience many of the most interesting and spectacular aspects of a total eclipse. Essentially, it’s just a different type of partial eclipse. Since this annular eclipse occurs only six months before the 2024 total eclipse, first-time eclipse viewers need to understand the difference and lower their expectations for the October event. Enjoy it for what it is, use it as a “dry run” for the 2024 total eclipse, and then get ready to have your mind blown in April.
Below is a photo of an annular solar eclipse as seen from a camera using a safe solar filter.
Below is a photo of totality during a total solar eclipse.
The image below shows the paths of the 2023 annular solar eclipse and 2024 total solar eclipse.
ADG: Do you have any advice for eclipse fans who are interested in seeing the 2024 Total Eclipse?
Dave: The best advice I can offer is this: Don’t miss it! A total solar eclipse is a true bucket list experience. Many people who have seen a total solar eclipse describe it as one of the most incredible natural events they have ever witnessed. For some people, it’s literally a life-changing moment. The U.S. is lucky in that it gets to experience two total eclipses over the span of only seven years: the first in 2017 and once again in April of 2024. We won’t have another total eclipse in America until 2033, and that one will be in Alaska. After that, you have to wait until 2044. So, if you missed the one in 2017, you might not have another chance to see one here at home for 20 years. What’s more, the 2024 eclipse promises to be even more spectacular than the one in 2017. It crosses over or comes close to more major cities, meaning many more people will have a chance to see it, and its maximum duration of totality is almost two minutes longer than in 2017. If you’re planning on seeing this total eclipse, make sure you position yourself inside the path of totality. You need to be inside the path to see a total eclipse and the closer you are to the centerline of the path the longer totality will last. If you’re outside the path of totality, even by a mile, you’ll see a partial solar eclipse only and you’ll miss out on experiencing everything that makes a total eclipse so amazing. You can see state-by-state maps of the path of totality at NationalEclipse.com
ADG: What do you think of Anderson Design Group's Eclipse poster art? Do you have a favorite ADG poster design?
Dave: I’ve enjoyed ADG’s artwork since discovering them a couple of years ago. In fact, I’m looking at the 2023 national parks calendar hanging on the wall of my office right now. The series of designs that ADG has created for the 2023 and 2024 eclipses highlight some of the noteworthy cities and breathtaking locations that are inside the paths of these eclipses. My favorites are those of the national parks that the 2023 eclipse will cross over. This annular eclipse in October, in particular, offers the chance to view an eclipse over some truly stunning landscapes in the American West and ADG’s retro travel poster art for the eclipse uniquely captures the allure of those destinations.
ADG: What are you looking forward to after the 2024 Total Eclipse?
Dave: As for eclipses, the next big eclipse after the one in 2024 will be a total eclipse that crosses over Iceland and Spain in August of 2026. This eclipse will offer a good excuse for visiting one of these two countries. As I mentioned, the next two total eclipses in America will occur in 2033 and 2044. And then, in 2045, we’ll experience what will arguably be the best total eclipse of the 21st century: a coast-to-coast eclipse in the U.S. with a whopping maximum duration of totality of over six minutes! If you’d like to plan your eclipse trips for the next 20+ years, NationalEclipse.com has maps of every annular and total eclipse occurring around the world up until 2045.
ADG: Anything else you want to talk about?
Dave: If you’re planning on viewing the 2023 and/or 2024 eclipses, it’s extremely important that you practice safe eclipse viewing procedures. You must use special eclipse safety glasses or viewers to view a partial eclipse, an annular eclipse, and the partial phases of a total eclipse. The only time it's safe to look at a total eclipse without proper eye protection is during the very brief period of "totality" when the Sun is 100 percent blocked by the Moon, which will only occur inside the path of totality. During an annular eclipse, it’s never safe to look with unprotected eyes. The NationalEclipse.com Eclipse Safety page provides detailed information and links to important resources. We also have a wide variety of certified safe eclipse glasses and viewers.
Exciting Solar Events Ahead! (And Poster Art to Commemorate Them)
The artists of Anderson Design Group specialize in creating beautiful, meaningful art prints that celebrate iconic places and events. If you want to purchase a made-to-order poster, canvas, metal sign, postcard, or note card to commemorate your next eclipse experience, visit our site to see all of our designs.
Meanwhile, start making plans to be in the perfect spot to see both of these historic events!
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