A Total Solar Eclipse Will Be Visible Above Pennsylvania This Spring

Start counting down to an epic celestial event that’s so big it will plunge some parts of Pennsylvania into total darkness – for anywhere from 40 seconds to more than three minutes – this spring. If you miss out, you’re out of luck, at least for the next couple of decades. April’s total solar eclipse will be the last of its kind in the contiguous United States until 2044. That means now is the time to start making plans to catch the solar eclipse in 2024 in Pennsylvania.

Mark your calendar for April 8, 2024, when several cities and towns in Pennsylvania will find themselves in the path of totality for the next total solar eclipse, which will pass through Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

A remarkable and rare event, a total solar eclipse occurs when, as NASA describes it, “the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun.” The sky will darken as if it’s nighttime.

Only one major Pennsylvania city, Erie, will be in the path of totality. The totality in downtown Erie begins at 3:16 p.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m., turning the sky dark for three minutes and 41 seconds.

Edinboro, North East, Lake City, Corry, and Waterford will also experience the total solar eclipse.

The epic event begins with the partial solar eclipse, which will start at approximately 2:02 p.m. in Erie. During the partial solar eclipse, you must wear special glasses or avoid looking directly at the sun. Not wearing the glasses can result in temporary or permanent vision problems.

You can safely remove your glasses to view the total eclipse, but be sure to put them back on before the totality ends.

As the sky darkens during totality, the temperature will get colder, and wildlife typically becomes quiet as if it’s nighttime.

If you plan on traveling to Erie or any city or town that’s in the path of totality, you’ll likely have a tough time finding a place to stay. Available hotel rooms are going at a premium, and many hotels are already sold out.

I started looking at hotels in Erie before Thanksgiving, and most rooms had already been booked. If you need a place to stay the night before, look an hour or so outside of Erie, including in Pittsburgh. I live about half an hour outside of the city, and the drive to Erie is only a few hours. Check out Hotels.com to find open rooms.

Learn more about the total solar eclipse on the official website of NASA.

Do you plan to see the total solar eclipse in 2024 in Pennsylvania? Where will you watch it? Let us know in the comments! If you’re heading to Erie for the solar eclipse in April, both Presque Isle State Park and Erie Bluffs State Park are among the many good places to view it.