Savannah will only see a partial eclipse on April 8, but totality is in the city's future

While Savannah will only see a partial solar eclipse April 8, the city will be in the path of totality for a total solar eclipse not too far in the future.

Well, not too far by cosmic event standards.

A total solar eclipse on March 30, 2052 will stretch across central Mexico and several states, including Georgia, South Carolina, the Florida panhandle and small parts of Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. Larger parts of each of those states will see 90% or higher of the partial eclipse.

Savannah is located in the canter of the path of totality in 2052, which means that the duration of totality will be longer than it will be in cities closer to the edge of the path of totality. For example, Savannah's totality will last approximately three and a half minutes, while totality in Statesboro will last just under two minutes and Brunswick will only experience about one minute of totality, according to TimeAndDate.com.

To see the path of totality for the 2052 eclipse, go to https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2052-march-30.

However, for those who can't wait 28 years before getting a glimpse of totality, there are three more options in the U.S. before then. — with the next option coming up soon.

On April 8, from Texas to Maine, people will be plunged into darkness midday as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth causing a total solar eclipse. The rare event hasn't happened in the U.S. since 2017, when the path of totality was much narrower, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Total solar eclipses are the only eclipses that cause a dramatic shift to darkness.

More:A total solar eclipse is coming to the U.S. Here's what you'll see in Georgia.

What time is the April 8 solar eclipse? How can I see the partial eclipse?

The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT. The maximum duration of totality along the totality path will be 4 minutes, 28 seconds.

Savannah will see a partial eclipse for 2 hours 32 minutes, with 69.4% of the sun will be obscured by the moon at the peak. Savannah will see the early phases of the partial eclipse starting at 1:50 p.m., with maximum coverage at 3:08 p.m.

A livestream of the eclipse will be available on USA TODAY.

When will the next total solar eclipse be in the U.S.?

Though the 2017 total solar eclipse was less than a decade ago, the April 8 total solar eclipse is the last eclipse to cross the U.S. for 20 years.

Here are the next two total solar eclipses that will be seen from the U.S.:

• Aug. 23, 2044: It will begin in Greenland, sweep through Canada and go through Montana and North Dakota

• August 12, 2045: To and will cross over 15 states, including Georgia. The maximum duration of this eclipse will be six minutes and six seconds. Savannah will see 92.6% of the eclipse.

Where to get eclipse glasses

To view the partial eclipse safely, you have to wear protective eyewear.

You can find eclipse glasses online at Amazon, Warby Parker, GreatAmericanEclipse.com and NationalEclipse.com. American Paper Optics is offering express shipping.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, with the moon obscuring the sun. During a total solar eclipse, the sky will darken to the point where it seems like dawn or dusk. Only the sun's corona will be visible, creating a halo-like effect.

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com