Total solar eclipse in 2024: When and where?
As we move beyond New Year celebrations, 2024 brings with it exciting events, including a highly anticipated total solar eclipse.
This rare celestial phenomenon, set to traverse North America, promises a thrilling experience for observers. Visible across a wide swath of geography from Mexico to Canada, this event is sure to captivate many.
Starting over the South Pacific Ocean, the eclipse will traverse 13 states across the North American continent. It will first be visible in Mexico along the Pacific coast at 11:07 AM on April 8.
From Mexico to Canada
According to NASA, the eclipse's path will begin in Mexico and then move through the U.S. states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. After entering Southern Ontario, Canada, the eclipse will continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton, concluding in Newfoundland.
A Moment in Darkness
Total solar eclipses are quite rare, occurring only once or twice a year. They happen when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, with the middle part of the eclipse, known as 'totality,' completely blocking the Sun's light.
For those eager to witness the total solar eclipse, a trip across the Atlantic might be in order. Remember the most crucial rule while watching: never look directly at the Sun.
Viewers are advised to use special eclipse glasses or telescopes made specifically for solar observation. For DIY enthusiasts, creating a pinhole projector using cardboard with a small hole can be a safe and accessible way to project and observe the event.
