The next total solar eclipse in the United States, the first in seven years, will occur this spring.
If you missed the last total solar eclipse in North America on August 21, 2017, or the annular solar eclipse that occurred on October 14, 2023, be sure to mark the next total solar eclipse on your calendar.
What is a total solar eclipse?
During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth and completely obscures the face of the sun, according to the American “space” website. NASA.
No matter the time of day, the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the sun's corona, the outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the sun's bright face.
When is the total solar eclipse?
The next total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8.
The duration of the total eclipse will last four minutes and 27 seconds, which is nearly double the total solar eclipse seen in the United States in 2017, according to the American “space” website. The Great American Eclipse.
Although the next total solar eclipse will be visible elsewhere on August 12, 2026, if you miss it on April 8, the next total solar eclipse visible from the United States will not arrive until August 23, 2044.
At what time will a total solar eclipse occur?
The path of totality – when the moon completely covers the sun, creating a total eclipse – extends from Mexico (Sinaloa to Coahuila) to the United States (Texas to Maine) to Canada (Ontario to Newfoundland), according to the Verge website.o TimeandDate.coM.
The following American cities are in the path of the total eclipse, according to NASA:
- Dallas, Texas.
- Idabel, Oklahoma.
- (Little Rock, Arkansas).
- (Poplar Bluff, Missouri).
- Paducah, Kentucky.
- Evansville, Indiana.
- Cleveland, Ohio.
- Erie, Pennsylvania.
- Buffalo, New York.
- Burlington, Vermont.
- (Lancaster, New Hampshire).
- Caribou, Maine.
Areas near these cities will witness a partial eclipse before and after the expected time of the total eclipse. The partial eclipse will be visible across almost all of the United States and a small portion of Western Europe.
In Delaware:
- The partial eclipse will be first seen at 11:42 a.m
- The total eclipse will be first seen at 12:38 p.m
- The maximum eclipse will be visible at 2:17 p.m
- The total eclipse will be last visible at 3:55 p.m
- The partial eclipse will appear for the last time at 4:52 p.m
The total solar eclipse will be visible at 4:41 pm, which only 0.55% of the population, or 43,800,000 people, will be able to see worldwide in areas where the eclipse can be seen. As for any part of the eclipse, not just the total, 8.19% of the population, or 652 million people, will be able to tune in, according to TimeandDate.com.
Stages of a total solar eclipse
Many people focus on the moment of totality when they think of a total solar eclipse, but there are actually several distinct phases of the event that observers can observe.
Below are the phases of a total solar eclipse, according to NASA:
during Partial eclipseThe Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and does not completely cover the Moon at first, causing the Sun to appear crescent-shaped. When the Moon first touches the Sun, it is also called “first contact.”
Shadow gangs They are long, dark, fast-moving bands separated by white areas that can be seen on the ground or on the sides of buildings immediately before or after college.
Billy beads These are the multiple points of light that shine around the edges of the Moon as it continues to move across the Sun. They are caused by light rays from the sun streaming through valleys along the moon's horizon. Billy's beads appear only for a short time and may not be noticeable to everyone watching the total solar eclipse.
the Diamond ring The effect occurs at the beginning and end of a total solar eclipse. As the Bailey's beads begin to disappear, and the last bits of sunlight pass through the valleys on the moon's tip, the faint halo around the sun becomes visible along the edge of the moon's shadow and looks like a ring with sparkling diamonds.
the college This happens once the diamond ring is gone and there is no direct sunlight, also known as “second contact.” At this point, eclipse viewers may be able to see the chromosphere — a region of the solar atmosphere that appears as a pink circle around the moon — and the corona, which appears as streams of white light.
As the moon continues to move across the sun, You will appear radiant Across from where the diamond ring initially appeared. This is the Sun's lower atmosphere that begins to peek out from behind the Moon. You should put on your eclipse glasses before the first flash of sunlight appears around the edges of the moon, which is known as “third contact.”
As the final stages of the eclipse begin, The starting process you just witnessed will be reversed. The diamond ring will appear first, followed by the Billy Beads and Shadow Bands before the entire sun becomes visible again. The “fourth contact” is the moment when the Moon's shadow no longer covers any of the Sun, and signals the end of the eclipse.
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Safety of viewing a solar eclipse
The sun is not completely obscured by the moon during an annular solar eclipse, according to NASA, so it's important to take proper precautions when viewing the event.
Do not look directly into the sun without eye protection specifically designed for sun exposure. Without protection, sunlight can burn the retina, leading to permanent damage or blindness.
Eclipse glasses can be purchased from a variety of retailers in-store or online, and you can also view the eclipse indirectly using Pinhole projector.
The sun will be very bright during the eclipse, so if you plan to view and will be in direct sunlight for hours, wear protective clothing, a hat, and use sunscreen to protect you. Prevent skin damage.
When the eclipse is total, this is the only moment when you can briefly remove your eclipse glasses and look directly at the sun with your eyes.
Fun facts about solar eclipse
If your interest in solar eclipses is piqued, here's some information that might come in handy during your eclipse viewing party.
- A solar eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse, usually with two eclipses in a row, but sometimes three during the same eclipse season, according to TimeandDate.com.
- The total solar eclipse in April will be the second eclipse of the season. The first eclipse of the season is a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25, 2024.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in perfect alignment and the Earth blocks some sunlight from directly reaching the Moon's surface. During an eclipse, the Earth covers all or part of the Moon with the outer part of its shadow.
- According to the Great American Eclipse, the Moon's inner black circle is the umbra, the place where the shadow is complete – a total solar eclipse. The outer shadow circle is the penumbra and shows the extent of the partial eclipse.
- When a total solar eclipse arrives, nocturnal wildlife mistakenly wake up, thinking it's already night, and diurnal wildlife think it's time to nap, according to NASA.
Got a tip or story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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