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A total solar eclipse will move across North America on Monday. This phenomenon hasn’t happened in the United States for the past seven years, and astronomers say it won’t happen here for another 20 years.
On April 8, millions of people will gaze into the skies for the rare experience of a partial or complete alignment of the three celestial spheres: the Sun, Moon, and Earth. It depends on where you’re looking.
What time will the total solar eclipse begin? What path will it take across the country? How can I see safely without damaging my eyes?
Here’s a list of important things to know about the once-in-a-lifetime event that could happen on Monday.
What is a solar eclipse?
A celestial body, such as the moon or a planet, passing between two other celestial bodies can cause a solar eclipse by blocking the view of an object such as the sun.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon appears to be the same size as the sun and its entire disk is blocked from the Earth, resulting in darkness lasting several minutes. The resulting “wholeness” allows observers to see the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, which confuses animals, excites nocturnal creatures, and silences birds and insects. .
Recent studies have observed shallow cumulus clouds disappearing when the moon obscures the sun, and even found that solar eclipses change cloud activity.
Driving during a solar eclipse is prohibited.The only thing you should not do while driving during a solar eclipse is
Which states are on the path to completeness?
The total solar eclipse will trace a 115-mile-wide total path across Mexico, the United States, and parts of Canada.
In the United States alone, hundreds of cities and small towns in 13 states are located along this route. According to GreatAmericanEclipse.com’s eclipse mapper Michael Seiler, an estimated 31 million Americans already live along this path, and millions more tourists will definitely enjoy the spectacular sight. To catch a glimpse, he says, he is planning a trip that is sure to cause traffic jams. .
The eclipse is also expected to occur in parts of Tennessee and Michigan, NASA said.
Here are the major cities in each state where you can expect to experience a total solar eclipse in the United States (note that the times included do not include the start and end times of the partial solar eclipse):
- Dallas, Texas: 1:40pm-1:44pm (CDT)
- Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 PM CDT
- Little Rock, AR: 1:51pm – 1:54pm CDT
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 PM CDT
- Paducah, KY: 2:00 PM to 2:02 PM (CDT)
- Carbondale, IL: 1:59-2:03 PM CDT
- Evansville, Indiana: 2:02pm – 2:05pm CDT
- Cleveland, OH: 3:13pm – 3:17pm EDT
- Erie, PA: 3:16pm – 3:20pm EDT
- Buffalo, NY: 3:18pm – 3:22pm EDT
- Burlington, Vermont: 3:26pm – 3:29pm EDT
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27pm – 3:30pm EDT
- Caribou, Maine: 3:32pm – 3:34pm EDT
What time is the solar eclipse?
Mexico’s Pacific coast will be the first location on mainland North America to experience totality, which will occur around 11:07 a.m. PDT, NASA said.
As the Moon’s shadow moves northeast, totality in the United States will begin in Eagle Pass, Texas at 1:27 PM CDT. From there, the road will cross the country diagonally, ending its time in the U.S. in Lee, Maine, at about 3:35 p.m. EDT, and entering Canada’s coastal provinces, according to Nationaleclipse.com.
Decoding the sky:The definitive guide to solar eclipses for kids (adults welcome too)
How long will a total solar eclipse last?
Along the way, the period of darkness lasts only a few seconds and can exceed four minutes in some cities.
If you’d like to find out when and how long totality will occur near you, enter your postcode below to find out. You can also use this interactive map to find out more about your location.
How to safely view a solar eclipse
Unlike a partial solar eclipse, a total solar eclipse offers viewers a unique opportunity to gaze at it with the naked eye, but only when the moon completely blocks the sun, resulting in darkness known as totality.
Although blindness is unlikely, staring directly into the sun’s rays can cause serious damage to the retina. Therefore, according to NASA, proper safety glasses are still mandatory until the moment the whole situation occurs.
While some welding goggles may work, the best option for viewing the solar eclipse is that most sunglasses comply with international safety standards and block out almost all visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light. They are also certified glasses that are 100,000 times darker.
Eclipse glasses are easily available from many vendors on the Internet, but if you’re looking to save money, your local library or other public institution is likely to offer them for free.
Just be wary of cheap imitations. To make online shopping easier, the American Astronomical Society maintains a select list of approved vendors.
Another easy method is to create your own pinhole projector that projects the sun onto nearby surfaces. The American Astronomical Society also provides helpful instructions for setting them up.
When was the last time there was a solar eclipse?
The last solar eclipse occurred on August 21, 2017. In October, a rare “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse, in which the moon glided in front of the sun but never completely obscured it, creating a halo, delighted stargazers. effect.
When is the next total solar eclipse in 2024?
Whether you live on the perfect road or need to find the closest city that’s shrouded in daytime darkness, one thing’s for sure: now’s the time to start planning to see it. is.
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse in North America will occur on August 23, 2044.
Unfortunately, the 2044 total solar eclipse will not have as widespread an impact across the United States as the 2024 total solar eclipse.
The Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization engaged in research, public service, and political space advocacy, says only three states will be reached by total orbit during the 2044 eclipse.
The eclipse will begin in Greenland, pass through Canada, and end around sunset in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Contributor: Gabe Hauari
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund. Eric Lagatta covers the latest and trending news for USA TODAY. Please contact elagatta@gannett.com.
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