Jamie Carter
Jamie is an experienced science, technology and travel journalist and stargazer who writes about exploring the night sky, solar and lunar eclipses, moon-gazing, astro-travel, astronomy and space exploration. He is the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners, and is a senior contributor at Forbes. His special skill is turning tech-babble into plain English.
Latest articles by Jamie Carter
![A drawn silhouette of amateur photographers looking to the sky with a telescope and DSLR camera on one of our mounts.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NohNCbvWrYtuP5jq2UaVHg-320-80.jpg)
NASA enlists citizen scientists to help solve solar mysteries during the total solar eclipse 2024
By Jamie Carter published
The Eclipse Megamovie Project 2024 will enlist citizen scientists to photograph the total solar eclipse and solve the mystery of solar jets and plumes.
![People watch the solar eclipse at Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University on August 21, 2017 in Carbondale, Illinois](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DwPS6PPem8dBbevEdz8WQ3-320-80.jpg)
Where will the most crowded places be for the total solar eclipse 2024?
By Jamie Carter last updated
With millions of people flocking to see the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, we take a look at some of the predicted most crowded places.
![Locals and travelers from around the world gather on Menan Butte to watch the eclipse on August 21, 2017 in Menan, Idaho. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m65MQ67suRkvGHcTq3QMEE-320-80.jpg)
Where is the best place to see the April 2024 total solar eclipse?
By Jamie Carter last updated
Here's everything you need to know about selecting the best viewing spot for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
![The sun eclipsed by the moon over the Oregon Coast in 2017.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DdzJhigzqFiLNsTGXTps4n-320-80.jpg)
10 things you probably didn't know about the 2024 total solar eclipse
By Jamie Carter published
A total solar eclipse is coming on April 8, 2024, but how much do you really know about it?
![An event immediately preceding both ends of totality. Bailey's Beads is a phenomenon in which the sun's light passes through the mountains on the moon leading to the "beads" on the edge of the moon's shadow.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n4uiqhKKPwB3R5DdKZZFqE-320-80.jpg)
6 reasons why the 2024 total solar eclipse could be the best eclipse for hundreds of years
By Jamie Carter published
The total solar eclipse of 2024 will be visible across Northern America on April 8. It could be the best eclipse for hundreds of years. Here's why.
![total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. appearing as a dark circle surrounded by a halo of white light.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N4Hteb8KD8Tusmr7DgKc4E-320-80.jpg)
The best places in the US to experience totality during the April 2024 solar eclipse
By Jamie Carter last updated
A total solar eclipse is coming to the U.S. on April 8, 2024. We've rounded up some of the best places in each state along the path of totality to view the eclipse from.
![a person looking at the sun while standing next to a telescope](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HmyY9rKUk3A7q9FzyiDeqe-320-80.jpg)
How to observe the sun safely (and what to look for)
By Jamie Carter last updated
Reference The sun is a great skywatching target but you should NEVER look at it without protection. Here we explain how to view the sun safely and what to look out for.
![Totality as seen from Easter Island on July 11, 2010.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hZ4bBSJ2YUWDJZbBsJHSTU-320-80.jpg)
Where will the April 2024 total solar eclipse be visible from?
By Jamie Carter last updated
On April 8, 2024, North America will experience a partial solar eclipse, but from parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada it will be possible to experience totality.
![a photograph of three lanes of traffic completely backed up on the interstate. The lanes one the other side going in the opposite direction are mostly clear.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n7keVtusxeXeEEvm3gXmdN-320-80.jpg)
Solar eclipse jam: How to avoid getting stuck in traffic on April 8, 2024
By Jamie Carter published
Here's how to avoid getting stuck in traffic when heading to see the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
![total solar eclipse with a burst of sunlight emerging from behind the moon in the lower left corner.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aLfWP66CT2YKgkLbKdV4yZ-320-80.jpg)
8 top tips for planning your 2024 total eclipse trip
By Jamie Carter last updated
Here are some top tips to get the most out of your total solar eclipse viewing experience on April 8, 2024.
![map of the United States with the paths of the 2017 and 2023 total solar eclipses.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UvgeCTRgVZNPXEuNtz58W6-320-80.jpg)
How will the 2024 total solar eclipse differ from the 2017 total solar eclipse?
By Jamie Carter published
We take a look at how the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will differ from the total solar eclipse that swept across the U.S. on Aug. 21, 2017.
![two people watching the solar eclipse from their car.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kXsSbvaQGWD36G3yJvayBE-320-80.jpg)
Road trip! See April's total solar eclipse from one of these awesome North American routes
By Jamie Carter published
Check out these six awesome road trips where you can experience the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
![A map showing the circular shadow of the moon passing over the U.S.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YvAxjQfU8ambuZnZUZao4J-320-80.jpg)
Why you don't need to get to the centerline for April's total solar eclipse — and what will happen at the edge
By Jamie Carter published
If you understand the importance of the path of totality, then you may be heading for the centerline, but there are lots of reasons not to.
![the moon blocks the sun, leaving a fiery aura in the sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ChXZtMgjUVJsiPBH8fYy8J-320-80.jpg)
10 rookie mistakes first-time eclipse-chasers make (and how to avoid them)
By Jamie Carter published
The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 is a rare chance for North Americans to experience a total solar eclipse. Don't get it wrong.
![Brian Emfinger took this photograph on Jan. 2, 2012, in Ozark, Arkansas. He said: The radiant is very, very close to the Quadrantid but I'm not 100% sure it is indeed a Quadrantid.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NaSY98LZjB73PHGrm3QT9H-320-80.jpg)
Quadrantid meteor shower 2024: The year's 1st meteor shower blazes over North America on Jan. 3
By Jamie Carter published
Up to 120 shooting stars per hour could be visible during a brief peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower — the year's first meteor shower, coming to North America Jan. 3 and 4.
![The Dallas skyline is a colorful landscape in late afternoon light. Interstates 45 and 35 converge in a orderly design.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wQEkgHxH9DLVoW3jWe7D6R-320-80.jpg)
Total solar eclipse April 2024: 10 of the biggest cities within the path of totality
By Jamie Carter published
Over 31 million people in North America will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Here we have listed 10 of the biggest cities in the path of totality.
![a sklyine reflected in adjacent water](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UMjBK3RGENfmFmHNNemBX-320-80.jpg)
The best places in Canada to see the 2024 total solar eclipse
By Jamie Carter published
On April 8, 2024, all of Canada will see at least a partial solar eclipse, but parts of Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will experience totality.
![The great North American total eclipse. This is the moment when the sun's corona is visible at 100% totality, with huge plasma erupting on the suns surface, this is many times larger than planet Earth and is about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zw4XLku8Pu2XGqpfGqWEUB-320-80.jpg)
Solar maximum: Why April's total Solar Eclipse will bring unique views of the sun's corona
By Jamie Carter published
With the solar cycle set to peak earlier than predicted, the sun's corona should look its spectacular spiky best for April 8's total solar eclipse.
![a large body of water surrounded by autumnal trees with vibrant orange and yellow leaves with houses nestled between them.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DYbn9YreAoP6hrwsvN5qFM-320-80.jpg)
10 scenic spots to watch the April 2024 total solar eclipse
By Jamie Carter published
If you want to watch April's total solar eclipse from a beautiful location and need some inspiration, we have rounded up 10 of the best scenic spots across North America.
![El Faro lighthouse high above the sea below.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hb5XsG8CaV6isEds5cjDWJ-320-80.jpg)
The best places in Mexico to see the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024
By Jamie Carter published
A total solar eclipse will be visible across North America on April 8, 2024. Here, we take a look at some of the best places to watch the total eclipse in Mexico.
![large crowd weathering solar eclipse glasses looking up at the sun/](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sLNFcsKEwGSfErd5gzWV3e-320-80.jpg)
April 2024 total solar eclipse viewing events: Parties, festivals and more
By Jamie Carter published
Celebrate April's total solar eclipse with these 10 awesome viewing events, parties and festivals.
![people watch a total solar eclipse in partly clouds sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QxMYakEZfoxsq2qt6DTPdQ-320-80.jpg)
How El Niño may affect the chances of clear skies for the 2024 total solar eclipse
By Jamie Carter published
On April 8, a total solar eclipse will be visible across North America. We take a look at where the weather is looking most promising and how El Niño may impact the chances of clear skies.
![Jamie Carter stands holding a pair of binoculars and watches the eclipse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/brzgzviFkdk3dY32HjWJBh-320-80.jpg)
What the 'ring of fire' eclipse looked like from the home of ancient solar astronomy
By Jamie Carter published
Eclipse-chasers and archaeo-astronomers flocked to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico to see annularity from the home of the famous 'Rock of the Sun' petroglyph.
![graphic illustration depicting how fast a solar eclipse travels with a speedometer graphic overlaid on top of a graphic of a solar eclipse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G5SQkqNFtJQgNPiQmPFMz3-320-80.jpg)
How fast will October's annular solar eclipse travel?
By Jamie Carter last updated
A 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse will speed across the Americas on Oct. 14, 2023. We explore what affects the speed of a solar eclipse.
![Solar eclipse photographed in Chon Buri, Thailand. The red hue image shows a distinct 'ring of fire' glowing in the sky, slightly obscured by a cloud.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xVN5pcgAtdxyKVFDt23qBn-320-80.jpg)
Annular solar eclipse 2023: Everything you need to know about North America's 'ring of fire' eclipse
By Jamie Carter last updated
Reference The annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, will be visible from eight states in the U.S. Southwest. Find out how and where to see the 'ring of fire' eclipse in our ultimate guide.
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