The surreal midday darkness of a total solar eclipse will pass over the United States on April 8, 2024, and there's plenty you should know before the big day, which won't happen again for about two decades.

Of all the celestial sights, there's none quite like a total solar eclipse, when the sun, moon and Earth align and a narrow stretch of land is plunged into the moon's shadow. Millions of people are expected to travel to see the spectacle, which will also attract scientists from across the country to study its unique effects.

Courtesy of EarthCam https://www.earthcam.com/