Our playlist of the best songs to listen to during the solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse is sweeping across the U.S. on April 8— and there’s a song for that. Whether you’re planning a totally celestial party or taking an epic road trip to watch the moon block out the sun, or are just wanting some new tunes, we have a playlist for you.

From sun-themed bops like “Solar Power” by Lorde and “Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield to U2’s “Staring at the Sun” and “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen, the track list has you covered for every part of the celestial event. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers take us through totality, while there’s “No Light, No Light” (Florence + The Machine), and when the moon moves, we’ll be singing “Here Comes The Sun” (The Beatles) and “The Sun’s Gonna Shine Again” by Ray Charles, among others. While there are some incredible albums that could work for this playlist (“The Dark Side of The Moon” by Pink Floyd, anyone?) we strictly stuck with song titles for length.

If we missed one of your favorites in the playlist, feel free to let us know in the comments.

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What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking all sunlight on a swath of Earth. This year’s eclipse begins in Mazatlán, Mexico, around 12:07 p.m. Mountain time and travels northeast. The moon’s shadow enters the U.S. via Eagle Pass and Uvalde in Texas around 1:27 Central time. From Texas, the moon draws a straight path to Maine and Newfoundland, Canada.

At the center of the path, the moon will completely block out the sun for about four minutes. Major cities in the path of totality include Austin, Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and Montreal.

How to watch the eclipse safely

It’s dangerous to look at a solar eclipse, so please get glasses that are at least one thousand times darker than ordinary sunglasses. You cannot use regular sunglasses. Your eclipse glasses should have the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 code on the inside.

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If you need help, check out our guide on how to spot fakes and find the best glasses.

Why this year’s eclipse is so amazing

The eclipse on April 8 coincides with a period when the sun will be particularly active. Every 11 years, the sun’s activity waxes and wanes as its north and south magnetic poles switch places. The sun is approaching its maximum activity of its cycle this year, scientists say. That means it will be sending off more solar flares and eruptions from its surface.

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During a total solar eclipse, you can see the sun’s outer atmosphere, which is called the corona. Look for streamers, or bright streaks emanating from the sun. These are the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles blowing from the corona into space.

To see live coverage of the eclipse on April 8, follow @postclimate on Instagram and keep up with the latest from our reporters.

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