When a total solar eclipse occurs across large swaths of the United States, Canada, and Mexico on April 8, millions of people will see the sun darken during the day.
This amazing astronomical phenomenon lasts just 4 minutes and 28 seconds, which is twice as long as the last total solar eclipse in 2017.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking the sun's light. This time, the moon will be closest to the Earth in April, the day before the lunar eclipse, resulting in a total solar eclipse, a period in which the moon completely covers the sun.
“It takes a while for a lunar eclipse to slide over the sun, cover it, and then slide back down. It usually takes two hours for the entire eclipse to occur,” said Shawna Edson, an astronomy educator at the Smithsonian's National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It takes between half and three hours.” museum.
According to NASA, this phenomenon will not occur again until 2044.
According to NASA maps, part of the total solar eclipse will pass through parts of northern Mexico before entering the United States, and its path will cross Texas, cross parts of the Midwest and East Coast, and then It is expected to reach southeastern Canada and head toward the ocean. Dallas, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Arkansas, Cleveland and Buffalo, New York are all in darkness.
Approximately 44 million people living along the 115-mile-wide road will experience total darkness.
“We're really lucky here on Earth that the moon is not only about 400 times smaller than the sun, but also about 400 times closer,” Edson said. “So if they line up perfectly, the moon will cover the bright part of the sun.”
The rest of the United States will experience a partial solar eclipse. The further away you are from the total path, the more of the Sun will be visible as the Moon passes by.
more:2024 full moon guide: supermoons, solstices, equinoxes, and more
How to safely view a solar eclipse
Many people have heard the warnings against looking directly at a solar eclipse. Astronomers advise observers to always look through specially designed glasses.
“It blocks 99.99% of the sun's light and all you can see through it is the sun,” Edson said.
Amateur astronomers should also remember that they shouldn't look through regular telescopes without special filters, Edson said. “If someone's using a solar telescope, we just want to make sure it's someone who knows what they're doing,” Edson says.
But for those on the path to totality, it's safe to observe the phenomenon without special glasses for about four and a half minutes, when the moon completely covers the sun's light.
“At that point, the bright part of the sun is completely obscured,” Edson said. “The dangerous parts of the sun are blocked out and you can see it directly with your eyes.”
During those few moments, observers may be able to see the edge of the sun's atmosphere, Edson said. “You might see some gas loops near the edge,” she added.
more:Monthly Skywatcher Guide to 2024: Eclipses, Full Moons, Comets and Meteor Showers
Eclipse enthusiast has big plans
Eclipse viewers across the country are preparing for the big day by planning a variety of events to celebrate the four-and-a-half minute show.
The Air and Space Museum is partnering with other Smithsonian museums to host a solar eclipse festival on April 8 at noon local time on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. “Solar telescopes will also be coming,” Edson said, “and there are a lot of different ways to safely view the sun and the eclipse.”
Other activities will encourage visitors to “explore the relationship between the Earth, sun and moon” through scales and models of celestial bodies, Edson said.
Astronomers and stargazers involved in the total path are already making plans to make the most of this rare event.
Brian Tobias, manager of the Curtis Vaughn Jr. Observatory at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said he plans to take a group of student observers to find the best spot to capture the eclipse.
The university's celebrations began the night before with a “pre-eclipse” party, one of which had been booked almost a year in advance. “We actually do stargazing events for our wise neighbors who contact us about a year in advance, and if the skies are clear, we do stargazing events for them the night before. “We plan to do so,” Tobias said. .
Carbondale, Illinois, home of Southern Illinois University, was lucky enough to be in the orbit of two consecutive total solar eclipses after the 2017 eclipse. The university is reviving the Southern Illinois Crossroads Solar Eclipse Festival. Music, a 5k run, and an arts and crafts fair.
Some Texas music lovers will catch the festival's double feature on April 8th. The Ground Zero Music Festival, which will be held over five nights from April 5th to 9th, is located directly on Total Road in Bandera, Texas, about 80 miles northwest of Sun. Antonio.
The Texas Eclipse Festival is held at the rural Reveille Peak Ranch on the shores of Lake Buchanan along the Colorado River, with a star-studded lineup of musicians, DJs, and speakers scheduled over four days. According to the festival's website, 13 organizers from around the world will work together to transform the campground into a “Global Eclipse Village.”
Some are planning to take to the skies to get a closer look at the effects. A local vineyard in Fredericksburg, Texas, about 70 miles west of Austin, will host a festival with a VIP dinner followed by a hot air balloon ride, according to its website.
