Solar eclipse events in Florida: List of festivals, planetarium celebrations in April 2024

When is the solar eclipse? Monday, April 8, 2024.

USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

It's a little over a month before the next major celestial event graces our skies.

The total solar eclipse is Monday, April 8, 2024, with many clubs and institutions holding events across Florida for residents to catch a glimpse.

Want to know more about the eclipse in Florida and where you can join others to view it? We have you covered with what to know.

When is the total solar eclipse in April 2024?

The total solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 in Madras, Oregon. Emotional sky-gazers stood transfixed across North America as the Sun vanished behind the Moon in a rare total eclipse that swept the continent coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly a century.

The total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, April 8, 2024. The total eclipse will hit the coast of Mexico on April 8, about 11:07 a.m. PDT and leave the continental North America at 5:16 NDT.

The partial eclipse will begin first as the edge of the moon becomes visible, and then about an hour and 20 minutes later the totality will begin and last for three or four minutes before the sun begins to appear again.

Which states will see the total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse April 8 will be visible across a swath of North America. An estimated 44 million people live inside the path of totality stretching from Mazatlan, Mexico to Newfoundland; about 32 million of them are in the U.S. (AP Photo)

Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, plus parts of Tennessee and Michigan, are all in the 115-mile-wide path of totality.

To see the exact path of totality, check out an interactive map created by French eclipse expert Xavier Jubier.

How much of the April 8 total solar eclipse will be visible in Florida?

Florida is not in the path of totality for the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse, so residents won't see the moon completely block the sun. Residents will see a partial eclipse, though.

Depending on your location, anywhere from 54 percent to 82 percent of the sun will be blocked.

Mark your calendar!Florida in prime viewing area for a different total solar eclipse

What time will the April 8 eclipse be visible in Florida?

Depending on what part of Florida you’re in, residents should start to see the eclipse beginning about 1:35 p.m. EDT on April 8, 2024, with the midpoint at 2:55 p.m.

Where are the best places to see the eclipse in Florida?

Anna Martin, bottom right, and fellow Brown-Barge Middle School students watch the solar eclipse at the West Florida Public Library on Spring Street in Pensacola on Monday, August 21, 2017.

Pensacola will be treated to a spectacular partial eclipse of just over 80% coverage at the midpoint, according to eclipse2024.com, but if you want to see the most eclipse possible within state lines you'll need to head to Pineville (82.4%), Bratt (82.3%), or Walnut Hill (82.2%).

The farther south or southeast you go, the less of an eclipse you'll see. Tallahassee will get 75.4% coverage, Jacksonville about 70%. Central Florida across the state will be in the mid-60% range. Southwestern Florida will see about 60% of the sun blocked, Palm Beach 58%, Miami 55.7%, and down in the Keys it'll be 55.1%.

Here's where to watch the solar eclipse in Florida

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at the Orlando Science Center - 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803
Partial Eclipse and Earth Day Celebration at Kennedy Space Center - Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953
There Goes the Sun: Solar Eclipse Viewing at Palm Beach Gardens - Mirasol Park, 12385 Jog Road
Solar Eclipse viewing at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium - 4801 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Eclipse Viewing at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium - 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905
Eclipse viewing at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science - 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

Don't forget your glasses to watch the eclipse

Solar eclipse glasses from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation can be used for the Annular Eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, and the Total Eclipse on April 8, 2024. These have the ISO symbol on them and are safe for direct solar viewing.

NASA warns viewing any part of the sun with binoculars, a telescope or through a camera lens without a special-purpose solar filter or with your bare eyes without solar viewing glasses can result in severe eye injury.

American Astronomical Society’s website shares a curated list of approved vendors for eclipse glasses. Check the list before purchasing any.

Free solar eclipse glasses are also typically given out by local libraries, schools and observatories. These locations might have limited supplies, so it's best to call ahead to see if they have any available.

USA TODAY-Network Florida's C.A. Bridges contributed to this report.