Total Eclipse of the Sun as seen from Missouri on April 8, 2024

On April 8, 2024, Missouri will see a total eclipse of the Sun. The southeastern portion of the state will see totality, while the rest of the state will only see a partial eclipse of the Sun. Cape Girardeau will see over 4 minutes of darkness with maximum phase occurring at 2 pm. The August 21, 2017 total eclipse lasted two minutes and forty seconds in comparison.

The next total eclipse of the Sun, for the state of Missouri, and specifically for St. Louis, won’t be until February 25, 2343. Mark your calendars! Of course, other states surrounding Missouri will see totality before that.

Eclipses of the Sun happen once every 18 months…on average. The cone of darkness from the Moon is no more than 62 to 166 miles wide as it travels across the sunlit surface of the Earth, depending on how far away the Moon is away from the Earth. The Moon and Sun and Earth must be in the right place and at the right time to see a total eclipse of the Sun for your location. For Missouri, if you don’t see the eclipse in 2024, then it will be several lifetimes before the next one shows up in 2343!