A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the Sun’s bright face. This precise alignment momentarily plunges a small area of our planet into daytime darkness. The sight of the Sun’s faint outer atmosphere, the corona, is considered a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon because these events are rare for any single location on Earth.
The Timeline When Utah Will Next See Totality
The date for the next total solar eclipse with a path of totality crossing Utah is Saturday, August 12, 2045. A broad path of the Moon’s shadow will sweep across the state, encompassing a significant portion of Utah’s population and iconic landscapes. Current projections indicate the path of totality will track directly over major metropolitan areas, including Salt Lake City and Provo.
Communities along the Interstate 15 corridor, such as Nephi and Richfield, are also expected to experience the full blackout. The path extends southeast, bringing totality to landmarks like Arches National Park. Totality in Utah on this date will be prolonged, with some locations seeing the Sun completely blocked for over five minutes. The rarity of this event is underscored by the fact that the average time between total eclipses for any single spot on Earth is approximately 375 years.
Understanding the Path of Totality
A total solar eclipse is defined by the narrow track of the Moon’s darkest shadow, known as the umbra. This shadow is a small, rapidly moving circle on the Earth’s surface, typically about 100 miles wide. To witness the true solar eclipse experience, a viewer must be positioned precisely within this limited path of the umbra.
Outside this narrow strip, observers fall within the Moon’s lighter shadow, the penumbra, and only see a partial solar eclipse. This distinction is far more significant than a mere percentage difference in coverage. Even a 99% partial eclipse is vastly different from 100% totality because the remaining sliver of the Sun is intensely bright. During a partial eclipse, the sky remains light, and protective eyewear must be worn. Only during 100% totality does the sky darken to a deep twilight, temperatures noticeably drop, and the solar corona becomes visible to the unaided eye.
Safe Viewing and Essential Equipment
Directly viewing the Sun at any time carries a serious risk of permanent eye damage, known as solar retinopathy. The only exception is the brief period of 100% totality, which Utah will not experience until 2045. For all partial phases, specialized eye protection is mandatory.
The proper equipment includes glasses or handheld viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard. These filters are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses and block harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Always inspect your eclipse glasses for scratches or damage before use, and never attempt to look at the Sun through unfiltered cameras, telescopes, or binoculars.
Pinhole Projection
A safe alternative to direct viewing is to use a pinhole projector, which creates a projected image of the Sun. A simple version can be made with two pieces of stiff white card stock or paper. Use a pin to poke a small, clean hole in one piece. Stand with your back to the Sun and hold the pinhole card up so sunlight passes through the hole. This projects a small, inverted image of the eclipsed Sun onto the second card held below.
Notable Eclipses Near Utah for Travel
Since the next total eclipse in Utah is decades away, interested viewers may consider traveling to experience totality sooner. The total solar eclipse of August 23, 2044, offers a travel opportunity within the continental United States. Its path of totality will cross northern states, including Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, which are a shorter drive from Utah than many other locations.
Looking ahead to Utah’s 2045 event, the path of totality first enters the U.S. through northern California and Nevada. This segment of the eclipse path is a shorter travel distance for Utah residents interested in getting a preview of the experience.