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It’s shadow time Baby! People in North America will soon experience their first solar eclipse in nearly a decade.
Although the last solar eclipse in North America occurred in 2017, the next one is not expected until August 2044, so seizing this moment is crucial. More than just a special shadow, the solar eclipse is a perfect opportunity to hang out outside with loved ones and meditate on the smallness of humanity compared to the vast universe.
And even if you don’t live in the path of totality or aren’t one of the millions of people traveling to see the big event, there are multiple ways you can join in and watch the total solar eclipse online.
What is a total solar eclipse?
‘It’s an alignment of the sun, the moon and the earth in such a way that the moon passes directly between the sun and the earthwhich prevents the sun’s rays from reaching the earth’s surface,” says Noah Petro, an Artemis III project scientist at NASA. If you walk the path of totality, you will see that the moon completely covers the sun. Off the main path? You may still see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon covers part of the sun.
Despite the moon’s involvement, a solar eclipse should not be confused with a lunar eclipse. During these periods, the moon enters the shadow of the Earth and turns a dark red color. Lunar eclipses are visible over most of the entire hemisphere that faces the moon at that time.
When is the solar eclipse?
As we pass through parts of North America, the total solar eclipse will occur Monday April 8. Depending on where you are on the path of totality, the eclipse will occur in the afternoon and may last about four minutes. For more details, see NASA’s map detailing the exact time several US cities will experience the total solar eclipse.
What about a partial solar eclipse? For example, even though I live in San Francisco, well out of the path of totality, I should still see a small portion of the sun covered between 10 a.m. and noon. Checking out this handy link to see when it happens, wherever you are.
Where will it be visible?
While the total solar eclipse mainly takes place in Mexico and the United Statesa small part of Eastern Canada is also in the path of totality. To see what it might look like in different locations, check out this fantastic website, created by a retired mathematician, that simulates the solar eclipse.
Three major Mexican cities where you can see the total solar eclipse are Mazatlán, Durango and Torreón.
There are countless locations in the US where you can potentially experience totality. A few of the locations include Dallas, Texas; Russellville, Arkansas; Carbondale, Ill.; Greenwood, Indiana; and Buffalo, New York.