The total solar eclipse on April 8 will cast eerie darkness over a large portion of the United States, Canada, and Mexico during totality – the few moments when the moon covers the sun’s face, blocking its light.
Totality provides a very different experience than 99% eclipse coverage. First and foremost, totality is the only time when it is safe to look directly at the sun without using solar eclipse glasses or other certified eye protection. However, spectators within the path of totality will have the opportunity to witness a variety of unusual eclipse phenomena.
The total eclipse will occur along a 115-mile (185-kilometer) arc from Mexico to Canada, passing through 15 US states. The total eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and terminate in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT.
NASA has provided a thorough analysis of when totality begins and ends in each state it passes through.
Total solar eclipse: When does totality begin across each state?
| City | Totality begins | Totality ends |
| Dallas, Texas | 1:40 p.m. CDT | 1:44 p.m. CDT |
| Idabel, Oklahoma | 1:45 p.m. CDT | 1:49 p.m. CDT |
| Little Rock, Arkansas | 1:51 p.m. CDT | 1:54 p.m. CDT |
| Poplar Bluff, Missouri | 1:56 p.m. CDT | 2:00 p.m. CDT |
| Paducah, Kentucky | 2:00 p.m. CDT | 2:02 p.m. CDT |
| Carbondale, Illinois | 1:59 p.m. CDT | 2:03 p.m. CDT |
| Evansville, Indiana | 2:02 p.m. CDT | 2:025 p.m. CDT |
| Cleveland, Ohio | 3:13 p.m. EDT | 3:17 p.m. EDT |
| Erie, Pennsylvania | 3:16 p.m. EDT | 3:20 p.m. EDT |
| Buffalo, New York | 3:18 p.m. EDT | 3:22 p.m. EDT |
| Burlington, Vermont | 3:26 p.m. EDT | 3:29 p.m EDT |
| Lancaster, New Hampshire | 3:27 p.m EDT | 3:30 p.m. EDT |
| Caribou, Maine | 3:32 p.m. EDT | 3:34 p.m. EDT |