The last total solar eclipse visible from the US was in 2017, but the band of totality was smaller and less wide. At the eclipse seven years ago, the number of people living inside the band of totality was 12 million people. At the current eclipse, it is about 32 million US residents.
Millions of people are expected to come inside the belt of totality, as 150 million people live within 350 km of areas where the Sun will be completely covered.
Some cities have been preparing for three years for the big event which is seen as an opportunity to attract tourists to areas where they would otherwise not be tempted to come. There will be more police and some cities have installed lots of public toilets. People have been warned that mobile phone networks may suffer in places where many thousands of people will gather.
Festivals and concerts are also organized on the day of the eclipse.
There was also no shortage of conspiracy theories claiming that the eclipse would bring disaster, such as a collapse of communications networks.
Heavy traffic jams are expected, airlines have introduced special flights to cities where the eclipse will be best seen, and there are towns expecting tens of thousands of tourists on April 8.
So the 2024 eclipse will be watched by far more people than seven years ago, the period of darkness will last longer and for many it is an occasion worth taking a long flight or driving over 10 hours for to the band of totality.
