When the moon blocks the sun for a few minutes on April 8, those lucky enough to be in the path of totality will experience darkness in the day and the sun’s corona sparking above. However, also on show during totality (only) will be a bevy of planets and a comet.
Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn and Mars will all be relatively close to the sun. That’s all seven of the other planets in the solar system! As a bonus, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will be close to one of them.
Importance Of The Path Of Totality
To even stand a chance of seeing anything of interest during this eclipse you must be inside this 115 miles wide path of totality (below) through five states in northern Mexico, parts of 15 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces:
The path of totality on April 8, 2024.
Michael Zeiler/GreatAmericanEclipse.com
If you are outside this path—even if you’re close to it and see a 99% partial solar eclipse—you will see nothing mentioned here. No totality, no darkness, no corona, no planets (OK, maybe one), no comet. Just a “smiley face” sun through eclipse glasses.
So, get to the path!
How And When To See The Sun’s Corona
When: during totality.
Planet-spotting during totality is fun, and because totality will last over three minutes for some, there is time to find them during the brief darkness. However, the chief sight is the solar corona. It’s an awe-inspiring experience for many; all you have to do is look up in clear skies to see it—and you can safely use your naked eyes. A pair of binoculars offers an incredible close-up of the corona’s texture, pinkish loops, and prominences around the moon’s limb.
Note: You must use solar eclipse glasses for your eyes and solar filters for binoculars at all times except for the brief totality.
Top observing tip: this is what to spend the majority of totality looking at—it’s an indescribably beautiful sight.
How And When To See Venus
When: before and during totality.
Venus will be visible to the naked eye during totality. With its brilliance at around magnitude –3.9, Earth’s sister planet will be easily spotted approximately 15 degrees southeast of the sun (as you face south). This third-brightest object in the sky, it will appear perhaps 15 minutes before totality.
Top observing tip: get Venus seen and ticked-off in the 10 minutes before totality.
How And When To See Jupiter And The Comet
When: during totality.
Jupiter, shining at magnitude –2, and Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will require a more deliberate effort to locate—and will only be visible during totality. Jupiter will be positioned about 30 degrees northwest of the eclipsed sun (as you look south), but relatively easy to see.
If you do have your binoculars out for a stunning view of the solar corona—and you can tear your eyes away from it—you could search for Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. It will be 24 degrees northwest of the sun, close to Jupiter but between it and the sun.
However, if Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks has an outburst—as it did in July 2023—there’s a possibility it could be a naked eye sight during totality.
Top observing tip: have this chart in your mind and consider (and rehearse) spending 30 seconds looking first at Jupiter before jumping to the comet. Then quickly return to the eclipsed sun!
Why (And Why Not) To Look For The Comet During Totality
Some will say that totality is no time to start looking for comets. After all, the eclipse sun is the reason for traveling into the path of totality. They are mostly right—the solar corona is jaw-dropping in a way that a comet is not.
However, this could be a rare opportunity to view a comet during the eclipse and, in any case, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is going to be too close to the sun to see at night during its once-every-71-year orbit of the sun (it will reach its nearest just two weeks after the eclipse). If you will be in totality for a few minutes, it’s worth 30 seconds to catch a comet during an eclipse—a cosmic double-header few ever see.
For the latest on all aspects of April 8’s total solar eclipse check my main feed for new articles every day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
