The next solar eclipse will be visible to Texans. What to know about the 2044 eclipse

It’s never too early to plan ahead, especially when it comes to securing the best view for the next celestial phenomena. Especially for some of us who had a cloudy view of Monday's eclipse. 

There will be another opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse in the future, so, don’t fret if you didn't get a chance to see it Monday because of the weather. The next total solar eclipse will be visible in all 48 contiguous states, including Texas, on August 23, 2044. 

Here’s what we know about the next eclipse, including when and where it will be visible.

NWS update:Clouds likely to rain on the solar eclipse parade across Texas on Monday

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when a celestial body, like a planet or the moon, gets in the way of the sun’s light, casting its shadow on Earth, according to NASA. 

“That means during the day, the Moon moves over the Sun and it gets dark,” NASA says. 

A total eclipse like the one described above happens every year and a half somewhere on Earth, while a partial eclipse happens at least twice a year somewhere on Earth, according to NASA. 

Humans are more likely to behold the sight of a partial eclipse since they are a little more common. During a partial eclipse, the moon obscures part of the sun, making the sun look like it's missing a piece. 

When is the next total solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse won’t be visible in the U.S. for a while, we’re talking another 20 years or so. But there’s no reason why you can’t mark your calendars for Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2044, the day NASA says another total solar eclipse will be visible.

What regions will the 2044 total solar eclipse be visible from? 

The 2044 total solar eclipse is set to chart a pretty expansive path, starting in Greenland, passing by Canada and ending as the sun sets in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, USA TODAY reported.

The path of totality is set to “touch” only three states in 2044, according to The Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach and political space advocacy.

The conditions for a total solar eclipse then, however, will be “far better” than this year, with The Planetary Society writing that the “path of totality will stretch from Texas to Maine.” 

Another solar eclipse, which is set to occur a year later in August of 2045, will trace a path of totality across multiple states, including Texas, according to USA TODAY reporting.

After the eclipse, we'll have posters and framed prints from Statesman photojournalists available at usatodaystore.com.