A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, with a path across 15 US states, five Canadian Provinces, and parts of Mexico, affecting an estimated 44 million residents.

The 2024 eclipse will last over three minutes, nearly double the duration of the 2017 eclipse, and will be covered live by NASA and the Associated Press.

Visibility of a comet and four planets are anticipated during the eclipse, with the next North American total solar eclipse not expected until 2033.

Proper eye protection is necessary due to the risk of eye damage from direct observation of the eclipse.

Special events, like the Eclipse-O-Rama 2024 festival in Texas and animal behavior observations at zoos, are organized for educational and recreational viewing.

Research initiatives will take advantage of the eclipse to study space weather effects on technology, with a brief but critical window for data collection.

Resources for safe and informative eclipse viewing, including the online tool Eclipse Watch, are being made available to the public and amateur astronomers.