A total solar eclipse. (ESA/CESAR/Wouter van Reeven via Wikimedia Commons)
On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible from Goleta. A solar eclipse is caused by the moon passing between the sun and Earth. When the moon fully covers the sun, it causes a total eclipse.

While the eclipse will be total in some areas, that will not be the case in Goleta. At the peak of the eclipse, a little over half of the sun will be blocked by the moon.

A total solar eclipse will not be visible from the continental United States until 2044, and the April 8 eclipse will be the first of its kind to be visible from the contiguous United States since 2017.

When preparing to view a solar eclipse, it’s important to keep several safety precautions in mind. Only look at an eclipse with eclipse glasses because other glasses, such as sunglasses, are not powerful enough to safely view an eclipse.

A solar eclipse is a rare and important event, and it is hoped that the upcoming eclipse will result in new scientific discoveries.