Four weeks later, on April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America, offering an astronomical experience at many attractions.
Only a very small portion of humanity has witnessed a total eclipse; But tens of millions of people will be able to experience this eclipse along the “path of totality” from the Pacific to the Atlantic during that magical Monday.
Here’s what you need to know about why you should see it and where you should be.
What happens during a total solar eclipse?
The biggest show on Earth is coming, thanks to the lifeless moon. Normally, the orbiting lunar mass provides Earth with only tides, moonlight, and a place to aim space rockets. But approximately once a year, the natural satellite aligns with the Sun and, through a geometric miracle, creates a total eclipse, obscuring the center of the solar system.
“Although the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun, it is also approximately 400 times closer to Earth than the Sun,” says NASA. “This means that when viewed from Earth, the Moon and Sun appear roughly the same size in the sky.”
A narrow band marking the “pathway of wholeness” traces an arc of darkness across the surface of our planet. If you are somewhere along that line at the predicted time and the skies are clear, then this experience will become a lifelong memory.
The closer you are to the center of the path of totality, the longer the total eclipse will last.
What’s so great about seeing an eclipse?
After more than an hour of warming, with the moon constantly gnawing away at the sun’s surface, you suddenly experience totality. Stars and planets are visible at midday. The weather is getting cooler.
Faint diamonds known as Baily beads peek out from behind the moon, evidence of the celestial harmony between our two most familiar celestial bodies. In fact, they consist of light from the sun filtering through the lunar valleys.
As long as you can see the moon obscuring the sun and appreciate the mathematical perfection of nature in this corner of the galaxy, it’s a sight worth seeing.
Eclipses are completely predictable: We know the lines the next few dozen will draw on the Earth’s surface. But the weather is not like that. The cloud cover that marred the 1999 Cornwall eclipse reduces a cosmological miracle to pessimism.
Where will the great American eclipse in 2024 be seen?
The path of totality descends from the Pacific to Mazatlan on Mexico’s Pacific Coast and heads northeast to reach the US-Mexico border at Piedras Negras.
The major Texas cities—San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas—are at the extremes of the path of totality; Many citizens are likely to drive closer to the center of the line.
Arkansas will be an attractive place to view the eclipse as both Texarkana (on the Texas border) and Little Rock are within the path of totality.
In the Midwest, Indianapolis and Cleveland share the distinction of being fairly central to the path of integrity. Buffalo and Niagara Falls in upstate New York can be extremely attractive; however, skies may be cloudy in early April.
The path of integrity has just touched Montreal, Canada. The line then travels through northern Maine and back to the US; If the weather was nice this would be a perfect location. We then head back to Canada’s Maritime Provinces, where New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are in the dark.
I’d rather be in a more exciting city; Will they experience a partial eclipse?
Boston, New York and Chicago are among the major cities where much of the sun is out; But there is nothing that compares to a total eclipse.
Dr. D., an astronomer who has guided dozens of eclipse expeditions (and will do so again in 2024). John Mason sums up the difference between a 99.5 percent partial eclipse and a total eclipse that is very far apart: “A peck on the cheek and a kiss.” night of passion”.
You should use special eclipse safety glasses or binoculars when viewing a partial solar eclipse or during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse.
Where do I need to be for the full experience?
There is no guarantee of clear skies: all you can do is bet based on previous years’ cloud cover records on the relevant date.
Dr Mason says the average expected amount of cloud cover increases from around 40-45 per cent on the Mexico/Texas border to over 80 per cent in Maine, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Three particularly attractive places:
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South Texas, close to San Antonio or Austin. Not only are there likely to be clear skies, access is easy with direct flights to Austin. More importantly, there’s plenty to explore in the area before and after the eclipse, from Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande to the Houston Space Center, the perfect place to continue the cosmological theme.
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Northern ArkansasThe added attraction of Memphis, a picturesque part of the state, is just a few hours away.
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Niagara Falls: It may rain due to clouds, but the natural environment is impeccable and there is plenty of hotel accommodation available. Additionally, access from Toronto is easy thanks to a two-hour direct train connection, eliminating the risk of serious traffic congestion on highways.
If you are in a remote location, you may need a hotel close to the site. It is at least as predictable as the eclipse that traffic to and from the Totality Road will be heavy on the nights of April 7-8, 2024.
Rooms are likely to be expensive; During the 2017 US eclipse, a midsize hotel in Jackson, Wyoming was charging over $1,000 for the critical night before.
When is the next total solar eclipse?
Summer 2026, that is, Wednesday, August 12, will bring a spectacular eclipse northern spain It’s at the height of the European holiday season. The path of totality begins at the North Pole and passes through Greenland and Iceland, reaching the northern half of Spain. The band of darkness will pass the major cities of Bilbao, Zaragoza and Valencia on mainland Spain before reaching Palma de Mallorca.
The following summer (August 2, 2027), the southern tip of mainland Spain is on the path to totality for a region-wide eclipse. North Africa and the Arabian peninsula: It will proceed eastward from the Strait of Gibraltar and include Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, the northeastern corner of Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Less than 12 months later, on July 22, 2028, Outback Australia It will be the place to be. The total eclipse will make landfall in northern Western Australia, sweep across the Northern Territory and part of south-west Queensland, then clear New South Wales, with Sydney in the middle of its totality path.
Winter clouds may spoil the experience in Australia’s largest city – and most likely in the southern part of New Zealand’s South Island, where the eclipse reaches its finale.
Australia also appears in cosmological plans for 25 November 2030. This is early summer in the southern hemisphere and will likely be good conditions for observing. Namibia, Botswana and South Africa (Durban is on the path to integrity) and South Australia.