TYLER, Texas (KETK) — A year ahead of the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse, Tyler Junior College is making plans to be a hub for viewing.

A total solar eclipse is scheduled to happen in April 2024 and a partial solar eclipse in October of 2023. This takes place when the moon comes between the sun and the earth, causing the moon to cast a shadow over the earth.

TJC staff said that Tyler will be a premier viewing area for both eclipses.

Solar eclipse (Photo credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

The partial solar eclipse will be visible from Tyler on Oct. 14 from 10:25 a.m. until 1:32 p.m., with the moon expected to cover roughly 80% of the sun at 11:55 a.m.

The total solar eclipse visible from Tyler on April 8, 2024 will begin at 12:24 p.m. and last until 3:04 p.m., with the moon 100% blocking the sun beginning at 1:43 p.m. and lasting for around two minutes.

The TJC Earth and Space Center held an event on Monday regarding the historic events.

“It is something that is truly out of this world. It’s something that even as exciting as we make it sound, you’re not gonna believe how exciting it is until you actually see it in person. So we want to get the word out now so people can start planning,” said Beau Hartweg, Director of TJC Earth and Space Center.

NASA released a map to show where upcoming partial and total eclipses will be most visible, with Texas being a crossroads of their paths:

Map courtesy of NASA.

Solar eclipses occur once every 18 months somewhere on Earth, according to NASA, and only last a few minutes.

In the meantime, the TJC Earth and Space Science Center has regular events for space and science enthusiasts, and you can find a full schedule on sciencecenter.tjc.edu.

Over the next year, the Hudnall Planetarium in the Earth and Space Science Center will host a series of short videos before shows in the planetarium about types of eclipses, what to expect and how to view them safely.

On April 4, they will premiere a video on the Ring of Fire Eclipse, which should happen mid-October. This video will explain the difference between a “ring of fire” eclipse and a total solar eclipse.

In the fall, they will premiere a video called “What Causes Eclipses?” where they will dive into the science, common misconceptions, and shed light on the different types of eclipse.

In the winter, they will preview the Great North American Eclipse of 2024. The total solar eclipse will happen on April 8, and this video will teach audiences what to expect before the big day.