Totality 2024: Witness the Solar Eclipse Live!

The total solar eclipse slated for April 8, 2024 marks a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for many across North America. This eclipse is special not only because of its broad path of totality, stretching from Mexico through the United States to Canada, but also because it offers an unparalleled view of the Sun's corona, turning day into an enchanting twilight for a few mesmerizing minutes.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in such a way that the Moon passes in front of the Sun, partially or completely blocking its light from some parts of our planet, and there are three main types. Only during a total solar eclipse, like the one on April 8, is the Moon the right distance away so that it appears large enough to completely cover the Sun, leading to a brief period of darkness in the path of totality, caused by the darkest part of the Moon’s shadow. The only thing left to see of the Sun is its hot and expansive corona, or outer atmosphere, which is only visible to us without special equipment during totality.

For this upcoming eclipse, the corona will be especially breathtaking as the sun is nearing its solar maximum, a period of heightened activity. This is a stark contrast to the solar eclipse in 2017, which took place closer to solar minimum. Plus, the path of totality on April 8 will be 60% wider compared to the 2017 path, making this eclipse a prime opportunity for millions to witness the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the cosmos firsthand. Those who are in the path of totality on April 8 will experience up to 4.5 minutes of totality, in which the sky will be bathed in an eerie dusk-like light that even animals and bugs react to.

The rarity of such an event in any given location amplifies its significance, as another coast-to-coast North American eclipse won’t occur again until 2045. Luckily for us, this 2024 eclipse will carve a path through densely populated areas, providing easy access for communities to come together and share in the wonder of the universe. That’s why the SETI Institute and UNISTELLAR are bringing the eclipse to you live, with team members and their UNISTELLAR telescopes spread along the path of totality. We’ll be streaming our telescopic views to those at home so that we can all experience the eclipse together.

Join us live on April 8th!

The SETI Institute and UNISTELLAR are proud to present a special three-hour SETI Live event. Hosts Beth Johnson, Planetary Scientist & SETI Institute's Communications Specialist and Tom Esposito, Astronomer at the SETI Institute and Space Science Principal at UNISTELLAR who will be joined by an exciting slate of scientists and observers along the path of totality, discussing their research, the local conditions and crowds, and the state of the eclipse.

UNISTELLAR EVSCOPEs and ODYSSEYs have been deployed to bring these stunning views directly to you, so please join us for an amazing experience!

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SETI Live planned schedule for April 8th, 2024:

Meet the Team

Observations with the UNISTELLAR Network

Take a look at the amazing observations of the Sun the Unistellar network has captured in the past!

Annular Eclipse from Austin, TX. October 14th, 2023. 100x Time Lapse. Recorded with a UNISTELLAR eVscope1 by Mike Primm.

The Ring of Fire 2023 captured by UNISTELLAR Citizen Astronomer Greg Redfern with his telescope!

Eclipse Tips

1. Get your Eclipse Viewing Glasses before the big day! You can find these in stores or online here: https://www.chopshopstore.com/products/seti-eclipse-glasses
   
   You need eclipse viewing glasses to look at the Sun for the entire eclipse duration unless you are observing during totality - and only then can you look at the Sun directly without your glasses! If you are not in the path of totality or are observing during the partial portion of the eclipse, you need to protect your eyes with these special glasses.
    
2. Use your UNISTELLAR telescope, equipped with the Smart Solar Filter, to observe! For guidance on how to observe the Sun with your telescope, check out this article.
    
3. No telescope or eclipse glasses? Try looking at the Sun through a pinhole camera! You don’t even have to make one yourself - small holes such as those in a colander or between leaves act as a pinhole camera during the eclipse. All you have to do is gaze at the shadow on the ground cast from these objects!

Here's a helpful resource for us in the Bay Area around the SETI Institute headquarters.