Total Solar Eclipse
Saturday, 12 August 2045
Major total eclipse crossing Florida, the Caribbean, and the southern US — up to 6 minutes 42 seconds of totality.
Path of totality
Approximate central line — the orange trace marks where observers will see total eclipse. Outside a ~100-km-wide band, observers see a partial eclipse only.
What to expect
During totality, the Sun's corona becomes visible — pearl-white streamers of plasma extending millions of kilometers into space. Day turns to twilight; bright stars and planets appear; the temperature drops noticeably.
Maximum duration: 6m 42s. This is how long the central phase will last for observers on the center line — observers near the edge of the path will see a shorter central phase, and observers outside the path will see only a partial eclipse.
Best visible from: Caribbean, United States, Pacific. Outside these regions, observers either see a smaller partial eclipse or none at all — Earth's curvature puts the event below the horizon.
Viewing safety
- Never look at the partial phases with the naked eye — ISO-12312-2 certified eclipse glasses are required.
- Camera phones and regular sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.
- During totality only, it is safe to look directly at the corona — lasts 6m 42s.