Maine was the place to be if you wanted to look up to the sky and witness some amazing celestial events in 2024, from the total solar eclipse to multiple displays of the northern lights.
Eclipse 2024
April 8 brought a total solar eclipse, with totality spanning a large swath of northern Maine. The eclipse brought thousands of visitors to Maine’s small towns in the path of totality, and had an outsized impact on the state’s tourism industry this year.
This timelapse photo shows the path the sun and moon took during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, in Monson.
Credit: Courtesy of Isaac Crabtree
Jim Marshall and son Joseph Marshall of Pennsylvania watch the moon blot out the sun during a total solar eclipse in Greenville on April 8, 2024.
Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
The moon eclipses the sun midway through just over a minute of totality as seen from Milo on April 8, 2024.
Credit: Josh Kaufmann / BDN
Flor Rivera (center), from Boston, watches her first eclipse with family and friends from the parking lot of the Houlton Walmart.
Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Aurora borealis
The past year also brought prime viewing opportunities for aurora borealis, also known as northern lights. The ethereal lights show was visible multiple times this year.
The northern lights dance across the sky on Aug. 11, 2024, in Dedham, Maine.
Credit: Courtesy of Aislinn Sarnacki
The northern lights flare in the sky over a farmhouse on late May 10, 2024, in Brunswick.
Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP
The aurora borealis is seen in the sky over the Bangor standpipe on Oct. 10, 2024.
Credit: Courtesy of Hannah Young
Credit: Courtesy of K. MacKenzie
Northern lights in North Anson on May 10, 2024.
Beautiful views
Maine has also offered some extraordinary viewing opportunities of some more commonplace weather events. Lighting streaked across the skies, and we were graced with some truly beautiful sunrises and sunsets in 2024.
Ice from a weekend snow and ice storm reflects off the branches of trees under a scenic sunset view in Dedham on March 25, 2024.
Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Lighting flashes across the sky in Portland on July 16, 2024, during a thunderstorm.
Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Do you have pictures of celestial events like northern lights or meteor showers you’d like to share? Email us a picture at [email protected] to have your photos featured in a story.
