MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mark your calendars! A solar eclipse stretching across a large portion of the country will grace the sky on April 8, 2024.
A solar eclipse occurs at the exact moment when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun's light for several minutes. The short time when the moon completely blocks the sun is known as the period of totality.
With the sun completely covered, people in the path of totality will experience the best view - even being able to see the sun's wispy halo known as the corona.
Some of the major cities in that path of totality include Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Syracuse.
Locally, parts of Eastern Arkansas will experience the total eclipse for a brief time, including Jonesboro and northwestern Poinsett County, Arkansas.
There will still be a spectacular show for areas outside of the path of totality. Anywhere from 96% to 98% of the sun will be covered in Memphis - making it appear like nighttime for a few minutes.
The eclipse will begin in the Memphis area just after 12:30pm that Monday afternoon, with the peak eclipse happening around 2:00pm.
Before reaching the U.S., the April 2024 eclipse will go through parts of Mexico and continue through the eastern portion of Canada.
A total solar eclipse in the United States isn't an everyday occurrence. The last major solar eclipse in the United States occurred on Aug. 21, 2017. About 90% of the sun was covered in the Memphis area.