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The total solar eclipse on April 8 will enter from the Pacific coast of Mexico, run up Texas and Oklahoma, criss-cross the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England, cross eastern Canada and exit into the Atlantic Ocean.Credit: AP Photo, File
North America is once again trying to obscure the sun.
Monday’s total solar eclipse is expected to make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast, enter Texas and 14 other U.S. states, and then exit over Canada.
It will last almost twice as long and attract even more viewers than the total solar eclipse that stretched from coast to coast in the United States in 2017.
The moon will cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, a spectacle that usually takes place in remote corners of the Earth, but this time it will pass over major cities such as Dallas, Indianapolis and Cleveland. An estimated 44 million people live within the path of totality, and hundreds of millions more within 200 miles (320 kilometers), guaranteeing the largest eclipse crowd in the continent’s history.
Virtually everyone on the continent will be able to see the partial solar eclipse. You can see all the details online. NASA has a few hours online streaming From several cities along the total route. The Associated Press brings you live broadcast Watch parties and festival scenes.
Don’t forget your special glasses to safely view the eclipse.
Of course, everything depends on the weather. The National Weather Service provides daily updates. Cloud forecast It’s located along the road.
Here’s more to know about Monday’s celestial notable events.
What is a total solar eclipse?
The moon lines up perfectly between the Earth and the sun at noon, blocking sunlight. The total solar eclipse will last longer than usual because the moon is only 223,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) from Earth, making it one of the closest approaches this year. The closer the Moon is to Earth, the larger the Moon’s size in the sky from our perspective, resulting in particularly long and intense periods of darkness where the Sun is blocked. Totality is the longest at 4 minutes 28 seconds, surpassing Mexico. At other locations along the course, such as Syracuse, New York, the totality lasts only a minute and a half.
What is the eclipse path?
The moon’s shadow cuts a diagonal line across North America from southwest to northeast, temporarily plunging communities along the railroad tracks into darkness. Totality enters the continent from Mazatlan, Mexico, and exits from Newfoundland, Canada. During that time, 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine will experience fullness, including bits of Tennessee and Michigan. This will be a repeat of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois, which were in the highest position during the 2017 total solar eclipse.
A comet during a solar eclipse?
During totality, if you’re lucky, you might spot a comet along with four planets. Jupiter is to the left of the Sun and Venus to the right. Saturn and Mars are to the right of Venus, but are dimmer. Her three other planets in the solar system will be nearby, but virtually impossible to see with the naked eye. Comet 12P/Ponsbrooks passes Earth every 71 years. Although it is still dark, it will be close to Jupiter during the eclipse. But to see this so-called devil’s comet without a telescope would require a sudden explosion of dust and gas, says Anita Cochran of the University of Texas at Austin. But don’t waste your time looking for it. “There’s a lot to see, but not a lot of time,” she said in her email.
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