On April 8, a total solar eclipse that crosses from Mexico into the United States and then Canada will entirely block out the sun for millions of people in North America.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely obscures the sun’s face along a narrow section of the surface of our planet when it passes between the sun and Earth. We refer to this as the “path of totality.” Similar to dawn or dusk, the midday sky grows gloomy, and it has been seen that nocturnal animals awaken, mistakenly thinking that night has arrived.
The sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, will be visible in spots along the path of totality. Due to solar brightness, this region is normally invisible. A partial eclipse, in which the moon partially but not entirely covers the sun’s face, will be visible to observers who are not inside the path of totality. A cloudy day may, of course, ruin the vista. The next complete solar eclipse that may be seen is after this one.
What is the path and where will it be visible?
NASA predicts that on April 8, the eclipse would start over the South Pacific and travel over Mexico’s Pacific coast, arriving in Texas at around 11:07 a.m. Pacific Time.
It then passes through Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, as well as a small portion of Tennessee.
At 5:16 p.m. Newfoundland Time, the route leaves continental North America and heads into Canada via Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. It ends on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Every one of the 48 contiguous states in the United States is expected to be able to see a partial eclipse.
How massive are the sun, moon and Earth?
Only because the moon is so much closer to Earth than the sun despite the moon being considerably smaller than the sun will the moon obscure the sun’s face as seen from Earth. The diameter of the sun is around 865,000 miles (1.4 million km), whereas the diameter of the Earth is 7,918 miles (12,742 km). In contrast, the moon has a diameter of 2,159 miles (3,476 km).
Ways to watch an eclipse safely
Experts caution against looking straight at the bright light without first using special eye protection made for seeing in the sun. According to these experts, seeing an eclipse through a telescope, binoculars, or camera lens without using a special-purpose solar filter can seriously harm your eyes.
Noting that ordinary sunglasses are not safe for seeing the sun, they recommend utilizing safe solar viewing glasses or a safe portable solar viewer. During a total solar eclipse, the brief period when the moon totally obscures the sun’s surface is the only time when it is deemed safe for people to take off their eye protection.
What sets this apart from permanent eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse, a very distinct occurrence, was experienced by individuals along a path extending from the Pacific Northwest of the United States to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Brazil on October 14, 2023. as the moon is at or close to its farthest point from Earth, an annular solar eclipse happens as it passes between the sun and Earth. As a result, the sun’s face is not entirely covered, giving the appearance of a “ring of fire” in the sky.
What distinguishes solar from lunar eclipse?
When Earth is positioned between the moon and the sun, a lunar eclipse happens, casting Earth’s shadow across the moon. As a result, the moon appears dark and occasionally reddish to Earth’s eye. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses may be seen from half of Earth.
