A total solar eclipse will be visible from Texas to Maine on April 8, 2024. NASA notes that this phenomenal, awe-inspiring event occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. The National History Museum notes that solar eclipses occur between two and five times a year, but a total solar eclipse occurs less frequently. A total eclipse takes place every 18 months or so, but that does not mean everyone can view the eclipse. Whether or not a total solar eclipse is visible depends on where a person happens to be at the time it occurs. In fact, the NHM reports that generally total solar eclipses are visible every 400 years from any one place. Americans interested in seeing a total solar eclipse should make a concerted effort to do so in 2024, as NASA indicates the next total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States will occur in August 2044.