Total solar eclipse: where and when to watch and what to look for

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The day has finally arrived. In just a few hours, a Total solar eclipse It will create a celestial spectacle as it makes its way over parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

An estimated 32 million people across the United States live within the path of totality, or locations where the Moon will completely obscure the face of the Sun from view for a few moments.

The eclipse will appear for the first time Over the South Pacific Ocean and begins its journey across North America. The Pacific coast of Mexico is the first point of totality on the path, expected at 11:07 AM PT (2:07 PM ET), and the eclipse is expected to end on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland at 5:16 PM local time. (3:07 PM). :46 p.m. ET). Check to see what the eclipse will look like When will it appear over your area using our map?.

Those located along the middle line of the path will see an eclipse that lasts between 3.5 and 4 minutes, according to the Verge website. NASA.

In the United States, the total solar eclipse will be visible to residents of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, although the weather threatens to spoil the fun. some.

Only a few isolated clouds are expected to appear in Vermont through Maine, as well as in Missouri through southern Indiana, providing a perfect view of the eclipse. However, you may see a lot of Texas and the Eastern Great Lakes region The weather is less than ideal.

Crowds have already exceeded expectations in the small town of Houlton, Maine.

“We really didn't dare hope we'd have weather like this, and the skies are blue and the crowds are already starting to form, and it's only 6:15 a.m.,” said Gene Torres, executive director of the Grand Foundation. The Houlton Chamber of Commerce told CNN this morning. “This is the biggest thing we've ever seen.”

A partial solar eclipse, in which the moon appears to take a crescent-shaped “bite” from the sun, will be visible to those outside the path of the total eclipse.

Remember that Get a pair of certified eclipse glasses or a solar viewer To watch the sky safely; It is not safe to view any phase of the eclipse, except when the Moon completely blocks the sunlight, without proper eye protection. Sunglasses, or multiple pairs of sunglasses, will not suffice. The biggest risk when looking at the sun without the dark filter of eclipse glasses or solar projectors is permanent eye damage known as Solar retinopathy. This condition can improve or worsen over time, but it cannot be cured.

Are you concerned that your eclipse glasses may be fake? there An easy way to test this problem. If your eclipse glasses are not secure, or you are concerned about children removing their glasses, Make a simple pinhole projector To join the eclipse buzz.

While the totality is considered the most exciting part of a total solar eclipse, there are other parts Special stages that must be monitored Before the big moment arrives.

Aside from the weeks and months leading up to the eclipse, the longest phase of the event is the partial eclipse, in which the Moon slowly moves over the Sun. This stage can last from 70 to 80 minutes.

But a great signal for viewers will be when the sky begins to turn an eerie grey, about 15 to 20 minutes before the total eclipse.

Then, several stages occur in quick succession before sunlight disappears completely from view.

Look for droplets of sunlight forming around the Moon, known as Bailey's grains, as sunlight streams over craters and valleys on the Moon's surface. After about 30 seconds to a minute, some of these droplets will appear to fuse together, creating a shiny “diamond ring” effect. After about another minute, the Moon will appear to move completely in front of the Sun, and only a white halo of light will appear as the total eclipse begins.

The luminous glow belongs to the Sun's corona, or hot outer atmosphere, and its faint light can only be seen when the Sun's ultra-bright surface is obscured. Astronomers are keen to study the corona with a number of experiments, including: High-altitude research aircraftTo better understand the delicate structures within it and why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the surface of the Sun.

While totality is the main event, a few points of light can also be seen in the sky near the eclipse, belonging to Jupiter, Venus, Mars and faint light from Saturn.

The horned “Devilish Comet,” or Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, will do just that It is likely too faint to be seen without a telescope or binoculars – But the eclipse is the key moment to watch on Monday Anyway, according to astronomers.

During the fleeting darkness of a total eclipse, some animals may fall silent during the day, while nocturnal creatures such as crickets may begin to chirp and move. Scientists are eager to study what causes animals to behave unusually during the brief moments of the eclipse, and why this happens The public is invited to participate In some research being conducted on Monday.

The local temperature is expected to drop briefly during those few moments of the total eclipse.

The diamond ring effect will be visible on the far side of the moon as the total eclipse ends, followed by Bailey's beads, then a partial eclipse as the temporary alignment of the sun, moon and Earth, known as conjunction, ends.

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After the total solar eclipse ends, there is still a wait for the next celestial sightings in the United States.

Those who live in Alaska will be able to catch a glimpse of a total solar eclipse on March 30, 2033, and a partial solar eclipse will shine over much of the United States during the event.

A total solar eclipse will not be visible again from the contiguous United States until August 22, 2044, but totality will only occur in North Dakota and Montana, as well as northern Canada.

However, the next total solar eclipse with a coast-to-coast path spanning the lower 48 states will occur on August 12, 2045. The path of totality will fall over California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. Alabama and Florida, with a partial eclipse visible in other states.

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