Solar eclipse in 2024 might be even better for some Canadians

If you missed the solar eclipse this week, you’ll have another opportunity to witness the natural phenomenon in 2024.

And for many Canadians, the view will be a whole lot more dramatic than it was on Monday. That’s because this year, people in Canada had to settle for a partial eclipse while millions of neighbours to the south were treated to a total eclipse.

Before Monday, it took 38 years for a total solar eclipse to return to the U.S. mainland, which most previously occurred in 1979. But skywatchers won’t have to wait that long for the next one, which is set to take place on April 8, 2024.

It appears the path of totality, which indicates where the total eclipse will be visible on Earth, will be kinder to most Canadians in 2024 than it was this year.

On Monday, southern British Columbia got the closest experience to a total eclipse in Canada with a 90-per-cent view of the moon covering the sun. Meanwhile, much of Atlantic Canada was snubbed by science with just a 50-per-cent view in many areas. Fortunately for Maritimers, they will be the ones with the best sights in 2014.

The 2024 total solar eclipse will begin in Mexico before sweeping up the continent through the U.S. and the Great Lakes into Canada. Totality is expected to come through southern Ontario and Quebec. New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are also in line for a treat.

Maps appear to show Toronto right on the edge of totality, which means this eclipse could be the best one for Canada’s largest city in many years. Cities such as Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, N.Y., Sherbrooke, Que., and Fredericton are also in line for a total eclipse.

So if you have some land in any of these areas, you might want to start preparing for an influx of campers ready and willing to hand over cash for the chance at a great view like they did in the U.S. And if you’re anywhere west of Ontario, you’ll probably have to wait for another eclipse in order to get the type of view you got this week.

Don’t get rid of those eclipse glasses and homemade viewers just yet – 2024 is less than seven years from now. And you may not want to miss that one because the next total eclipse coming to Canada after 2024 is expected to take place in 2055.