Total solar eclipse 2024: How and where to watch online for free TODAY
Today (April 8), a total solar eclipse will be visible through northern Mexico, parts of 15 U.S. states and southeastern Canada. That's just one week away!
It will be one of the most-watched eclipses ever with over 32 million people living within the path of totality — a 115-mile (185-kilometer) wide route through Northern America where the moon will cover 100% of the sun's disk.
If you cannot witness the solar eclipse in person, you can watch all the action unfold here on Space.com courtesy of NASA. Our livestream coverage begins at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). You can also keep up with all the eclipse content with our total solar eclipse live blog as we count down to what is expected to be the skywatching event of the year.
Related: What's the difference between a total and an annular solar eclipse?
During a total solar eclipse, the moon moves between Earth and the sun, appearing almost exactly the same size as the sun. During totality, the moon blocks the entire solar disk for a few minutes (the duration of totality depends on where you are viewing it from).
Total solar eclipse livestreams
This list will be updated as more livestreams become available as we approach the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
TimeandDate livestream
Skywatching website timeanddate.com will be covering the total solar eclipse from start to finish with their livestream and live blog that will feature real-time progress reports and background information.
NASA Livestream
Watch the total solar eclipse 2024 live with NASA as it moves across North America on April 8, 2024, traveling through Mexico, across the United States from Texas to Maine, and out across Canada’s Atlantic coast.
The livestream will be running from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT (1700 to 2000 GMT) on April 8, During the broadcast NASA will be sharing conversations with experts and provide telescope views of the eclipse from several sites along the eclipse path. Make sure to send in your questions in the chat using #askNASA for a chance to have them answered live.
UMaine Livestream from the stratosphere
The University of Maine's livestream from the stratosphere takes eclipse viewing to a whole new level.
UMaine is among 75 institutions comprising 53 teams nationwide to participate in the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project led by Montana State University (MSU). The project aims to broaden the participation of STEM learners from various higher education institutions by collecting valuable data from scientific ballooning.
McDonald Observatory livestream
The McDonald Observatory, an astronomical research facility part of the University of Texas will be livestreaming the total solar eclipse on April 8.
"Join us as we talk about eclipses, what causes them, how to safely view them and watch the peak of the eclipse from three locations in Texas: McDonald Observatory, Lake Buchanan, and Irving." said the McDonald Observatory in a statement on their YouTube livestream.
The Virtual Telescope Project livestream
The Virtual Telescope Project based outside of Rome, Italy will be hosting a free eclipse livestream courtesy of astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project and an international team of astro-imagers and institutions who have partnered up to bring you the best views of the eclipse from across North America.
Twitch: NASA, Minecraft and Epic Games 'Look Up'
If gaming is your passion, you're in luck for the 2024 solar eclipse.
On April 8, from 2-4 p.m. EDT (1900-2100 GMT), NASA is teaming with the National Esports Association to have NEA students create eclipse-themed versions of Fortnite and Minecraft for tames that will be broadcast live on the streaming platform Twitch by video game streamers. Called "Look Up! Live Total Eclipse Experience with Epic Eclipse Game Launch and NASA," the event will be streamed live online at Twitch.tv/esportnealive. You'll have to visit the link to see the livestream as we can't embed it here, but you can see a preview above.
"During the event, each game will bring a different viewpoint of the eclipse. With educational elements in mind, Minecraft will venture through a game called 'Look Up!' in which players must escape the moon to get to Earth before the eclipse takes place by answering eclipse-themed questions and solving puzzles," a spokesperson said in a statement. "Similarly, Fortnite will have the player venture through different areas that can be accessed by moving through different parts of the eclipse's path of totality."
Viewing times and locations
Submit your photos! If you capture a photo of the April 8 total solar eclipse or any of these strange effects and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send photos, videos, comments, and your name, location and content usage permission release to [email protected].
