ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Mark your calendars, Rochester is three years away from getting a great view of the next total solar eclipse. It’ll be the first time in more than 100 years that Rochester falls within the path of totality.

The RMSC says the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse over Rochester at 3:20 p.m. will last about 3 minutes and 38 seconds. The best view in Rochester is right out your front door.

A total solar eclipse is when the moon is in just the right place at the right distance to exactly cover the brightest part of the sun. At that point, we will see the outermost atmosphere called the corona.

The Rochester Museum and Science Center has put together some online resources and activities about what makes the perfect observation site. The Strasenburgh Planetarium is also previewing it.

The path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse moves from Mexico to Dallas, to Indianapolis, Cleveland and then almost follows I-90 to Buffalo, Rochester and onto Watertown.

“An eclipse transforms everything, even if it is cloudy out there. There will be mysterious darkness in the middle of the day. The temperature will change and birds will react differently so however you experience nature, with or without clouds, or seeing or hearing, there is something in this for you. I can tell you having experienced totality from Tennessee in 2017, you must make plans to experience this. It is like being on another planet. There is nothing like it. It’s free and available for everyone so save that date, Monday, April 8, 2024,” said Steve Fentress, director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium.

Rochester is encouraging anyone traveling in from out of state to stay a while after the eclipse and explore the region. Check out eclipsecentral2024.com for more Rochester-specific information.

After the April 2024 eclipse, the next total solar eclipse in North America won’t be until 2045.