ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A total solar eclipse will soon grace the skies across much of the United States, plunging many into complete darkness as the moon crosses in front of the sun. However, the best celestial show won't be visible in Florida.
On April 8, 2024, a unique alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun will occur. The sky will darken, and it'll feel weirdly like dawn or dusk in the middle of the afternoon. Within the "path of totality," the sky turns black as the moon completely blocks the sun's face, revealing its corona, according to NASA.
The exact "path of totality" begins over the South Pacific Ocean, extending from Mexico to Texas, and northeast to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Locations outside the "path of totality," including the entire state of Florida, will experience a partial solar eclipse. It's still worth trying to see it for yourself — and safely, which we'll explain below.
What time is the solar eclipse in Florida?
The partial eclipse will begin as early as 1:35 p.m. Eastern Time in the Pensacola area, according to Eclipse2024.org. Florida's Panhandle will experience the greatest magnitude of the eclipse because it's closest to the "path of totality."
Mid-eclipse will occur as early as 2:55 p.m. Eastern Time.
Where in Florida can I watch the solar eclipse?
Eclipse2024.org shows that people in Pineville, Florida, will experience 82.4 percent of the sun's disk covered by the moon. In Islamorada, a village in the Florida Keys, about 54 percent will be covered. The greatest darkening effect will be in Pineville.
Here's a sample for other cities, with times listed in Eastern:
- Tallahassee: Eclipse begins at 1:42 p.m., 75.4 percent magnitude
- Jacksonville: Eclipse begins at 1:47 p.m., 70.8 percent magnitude
- Crystal River: Eclipse begins at 1:44 p.m., 68.4 percent magnitude
- Clearwater: Eclipse begins at 1:42 p.m., 66.1 percent magnitude
- Tampa: Eclipse begins at 1:43 p.m., 65.6 percent magnitude
- Lakeland: Eclipse begins at 1:44 p.m., 65 percent magnitude
- Sarasota: Eclipse begins at 1:42 p.m., 64 percent magnitude
- Miami: Eclipse begins at 1:47 p.m., 55.7 percent magnitude
- Key West: Eclipse begins at 1:42 p.m., 55.1 percent magnitude
How can I safely watch the solar eclipse?
By wearing specialized eye protection! Never look directly at the sun. There's no area in Florida where it will be safe to look at the eclipse because the state only is experiencing a partial eclipse.
You can look at the eclipse without proper eye protection during a period known as totality only within the "path of totality."
NASA recommends a list of solar viewers and suppliers on its website that meet the safety requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard. You should never look at the eclipse with regular sunglasses.