a total solar eclipse It will go on display across North America on April 8th, giving an estimated 31 million people a chance to get out and see it. corona of the sun in space.
Experts have compiled a map showing the so-called „.path of wholeness„It's where the moon's shadow crosses the continent. For those observing from their backyards in that corridor, there is a rare opportunity to remove the eclipse-protecting glass for up to 4.5 minutes during totality. Sun 100% hidden behind moon.
But we are not all cartographers. If you're not good at reading maps, Bookmark this guide. A solar eclipse calculator like the one shown below can help you determine whether your location will be in the moon's shadow. If not, at least you'll know how much sun the moon blocks from your vantage point. Anywhere else in the continental United States, coast to coast; partial solar eclipseThis means part of the sun will be exposed, said geographer and co-founder Michael Seiler. great american eclipsea resource for solar eclipses around the world.
„Even people who can't go to a total solar eclipse and are during a partial solar eclipse will still be able to see some interesting things,“ he told Mashable. „One of the most interesting things they can see is the shadows cast by the leaves of trees. From the gaps between the leaves, very impressive shadows can form on the ground.“
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What you can search with Eclipse calculator is past or future solar eclipses Even from a specific location. They may also provide details about what the eclipse will look like from that particular location. American Astronomical Society. These results are displayed in table or map format.
U.S. Naval Observatory's April 8 solar eclipse calculator
Like many solar eclipse calculator tools available on the internet, US Naval Observatory Tools Requests the latitude and longitude of a location to calculate the local eclipse situation. But if that's not the information you happen to have in mind, select your city and state and the button on the right „Need a US location?“ will automatically fill in the coordinates.
When you click the (Get Data) button at the bottom of the form, the calculator will display a table of information such as the eclipse's start time, peak time, and end time (in UTC or UTC). Coordinated Universal Time). It also tells you the duration of the solar eclipse and the maximum percentage of the sun that is blocked when the moon passes in front of the sun.
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April 8th solar eclipse time and date calculator
of time and date calculator It's probably more user friendly as it provides the same information for a specific location. If you select the „Local Timing and Animations“ link, the site provides a diagram of the mountaintop view from your city and an animation showing what the eclipse will look like, with the stages outlined in the table below. Masu. All times are displayed in the location's own time zone.
Remember, unless you're viewing the eclipse from a total path where the moon completely blocks the sun. Do not remove Eclipse safety glasses. When you look directly at the sun, even if it's just a small part of it, cause permanent vision loss.
When the sun is completely hidden, people have a rare opportunity. observing the sun's corona It shines around the edge of the moon. The outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere, the corona, is typically washed out by the sun's brighter surface.
„Even people with a partial solar eclipse who can't reach a total solar eclipse can still see some interesting things.“
Generally, the moon is expected to first cast its shadow over Mexico's Pacific coast. The Moon's Shadow Corridor arcs from Texas to Maine, passes through Ontario, enters Canada, and exits Newfoundland to the Atlantic coast.Major U.S. cities where you can experience this event total solar eclipse Includes Dallas, Indianapolis, and Cleveland.
![A colander that makes the shape of a crescent solar eclipse](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00FtUmsbYfRP4Qz9LhVQmzo/images-1.fill.size_2000x1333.v1706131012.webp)
![A colander that makes the shape of a crescent solar eclipse](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00FtUmsbYfRP4Qz9LhVQmzo/images-1.fill.size_2000x1333.v1706131012.webp)
A monkey projects the shape of the eclipse onto the sidewalk.
Credit: Joy Ng / NASA
Zeiler recommends that anyone within range of the partial solar eclipse take a colander or cheese grater outside and project the shape of the solar eclipse onto the sidewalk or white paper. NASA I have other ideas on how to make solar eclipse projector From household items.
But Kelly Kolek, a solar physicist and the US Space Agency's 2024 solar eclipse program manager, believes if you're not on the path to totality, you're missing out on the best part. corona. And overall, the event is a full-body experience, she told Mashable.
“I definitely recommend looking at the big picture if you can,” she said. „If you wipe out 97, 99 percent of the sun, it still looks eerie, but it's still like a cloudy day. It's not quite the same as darkness when the sun is completely gone.“
This story was originally published and updated in January 2024.