It was the first total eclipse of the sun to be visible from the contiguous (48) United States since 1979, the first since 1918 to go from coast-to-coast and the first total solar eclipse to be visible from the United States in the 21st century.

And it was also the very first time in modern history that the path of totality was visible solely from within the confines of the United States and no other country.

Video: Total Solar Eclipse in April 2024 - See the path of totality!

Related: Total solar eclipse 2024: Here's what you need to know .

For as spectacular as "The Great American Eclipse of 2017" was, an even better eclipse is on its way in 2024.

Related: The Most Amazing Photos of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse.

For the eclipse of August 21, 2017, the maximum duration of totality lasted 2 minutes 40 seconds, which was nearly a half minute longer than the US average. .

But on April 8, 2024, the maximum duration of totality will last as long as 4 minutes and 26 seconds (over southwest Texas).

That's 135 seconds longer than the US average and 40 percent longer than the maximum duration of the 2017 eclipse.

In fact, of the 21 previous totalities that have swept across the current contiguous US boundaries, only two surpass the 2024 eclipse in terms of duration of totality: the aforementioned eclipse of 1778 and the eclipse of June 16, 1806 (4 minutes 52 seconds).

The width of the totality path of the 2024 eclipse will also be exceptional: The shadow path for the previous 21 U.S.

In 2017, it was about 71 miles (115 km) wide, but in 2024 the path of totality will be considerably larger, measuring 124 miles (200 km) across. .

Interestingly, over the lower Ohio Valley, the totality paths of the 2017 and 2024 intersect.

But Carbondale, Illinois — which has christened itself as the "Eclipse Crossroads" city — will again experience totality in 2024, less than 7 years after having experienced the total eclipse of 2017! .

Total solar eclipse 2024: Totality path maps.

Indeed, April weather in the United States and southern Canada is much more variable than in Mexico, so that at any location there is some hope of very clear skies on eclipse day.