Technology

What time is the eclipse? When to watch wherever you are.

A glowing red outline of the eclipse on a pitch black sky.

The total solar eclipse will be making its way across North America on Monday, April 8, and you better be set with your eclipse glasses in hand as the astronomical phenomenon passes.

But when exactly should the 43 million people under the total solar eclipse path have their heads turned up to the sky?

Where to find total solar eclipse times

NASA’s Eclipse Explorer

NASA, of course, has been monitoring the eclipse and updating the public for months. Check out their Eclipse Explorer, which also shows you previous eclipse paths, to see just how much of the 2024 eclipse you’ll spot, and when. Just put in your zip code, hit enter, and find out everything you need to know.

For example, those in Dallas, Texas will need to have their eclipse glasses on before 1:40 p.m. CDT. Observers in Cleveland, Ohio can expect to see the total eclipse at 3:13 p.m. EDT, while Buffalo, New York residents will get theirs shortly after, at 3:18 p.m.

U.S. Naval Observatory’s eclipse tool

The U.S. Naval calculator provides more specific data based on latitude and longitude (don’t worry, they help you find that). Keep in mind you’ll need to convert the time from Universal Time to your timezone. According to the site, Burlington, Vermont eclipse chasers will be glasses up at 3:26 p.m. EST.

Time and Date calculator

Global weather and clock website Time and Date has its own eclipse calculator, too, which provides a full timeline of eclipse events, simulations, and more.

A map of the continental United States showing the eclipse path heading east.
Credit: PeterHermesFurian / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Total solar eclipse times by state

While a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the entire continent, only regions in what’s known as the “path of totality” will get to observe the total solar eclipse — sorry West Coasters. These include five states in Mexico, six Canadian provinces, and 15 U.S. states: Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont.

Totality will begin in Mexico at 11:07 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST) and end around 5:16 p.m. Newfoundland Time (NDT).

Residents of U.S. states in Central Standard Time should expect to see the eclipse starting around 1:27 p.m. It will pass by 2:06 p.m.

Those on Eastern Standard Time will spy the solar eclipse between 3:01 p.m. and 3:35 p.m.

For more specific times for your city, check out one of the calculators above.

Check out more Mashable total solar eclipse coverage:

Mashable