When was the solar eclipse 2024? Remembering the day the sun disappeared in Arizona

Time seemed to pause across North America on April 8, 2024.

Shadows sharpened, daylight dimmed to dusk and a hush fell over millions of onlookers as the moon slid perfectly between Earth and the sun. It was the day the sky went dark in the middle of the afternoon in many parts of North America.

For a few fleeting minutes, the sun’s blazing corona haloed the black disk of the moon, and people from Mexico to Maine stood in awe, witnessing a total solar eclipse that many had waited years to see.

The event was more than just a spectacular show. It was history in motion: the first total solar eclipse to grace parts of the U.S. since 2017, and the last one the contiguous states will see until 2044. From Texas to the shores of Lake Erie, towns in the path of totality became pilgrimage sites for skywatchers, scientists, and eclipse chasers from around the world.

Arizona was not in the path of totality, but the sky took on an eerie dim gray cast around midday as the moon crossed paths with the sun.

Here's when to see the next total solar eclipse in North America.

What is the path of totality for the solar eclipse in 2024?

Totality, the moment when the moon completely covers the sun, lasted up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, almost twice as long as the 2017 eclipse.

Cities and towns in the path of totality, including Mazatlán, Mexico; San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Buffalo and parts of upstate New York, had front-row seats to the full show.

Skies darkened in the afternoon, temperatures dropped, birds quieted and the corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere, shimmered like a crown. In areas outside the path of totality, millions more witnessed a dramatic partial eclipse.

Communities turned the eclipse into a major event, hosting festivals, science talks and watch parties. Scientists also took advantage of the opportunity, using high-altitude aircraft and telescopes to study the sun’s corona, solar flares and more.

When did the last total solar eclipse happen?

Prior to 2024, the last total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States occurred on Aug. 21, 2017. This "Great American Eclipse" was the first total solar eclipse to cross the entire continental U.S. from coast to coast since 1918. The path of totality in 2017 spanned from Oregon to South Carolina, allowing millions of Americans to witness this celestial phenomenon.​

When is the next solar eclipse 2025?

Here are the dates and where to see upcoming solar eclipses, according to NASA:

• Sept. 21, 2025: A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Feb. 17, 2026: An annular solar eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, Africa, South America and the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• Aug. 12, 2026: A total solar eclipse will be visiblein Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and Portugal.

Where in the US is the next total solar eclipse?

​The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States will occur on August 23, 2044. However, this event will be brief and limited, with the path of totality crossing only small portions of Montana and North Dakota. ​

A more expansive total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2045. This eclipse will have a path of totality spanning several U.S. states, including California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, offering a more widespread viewing opportunity. ​Wikipedia

For residents of Alaska, a total solar eclipse will be visible earlier, on March 30, 2033.

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