The skies over North America will soon turn dark in the middle of the day again.
Next Monday’s total solar eclipse will begin along the Mexican Pacific coast and pass through Texas and 14 other states in the United States, before concluding its passage across the continent above Canada.
It will be almost twice as long and will have a much wider audience than the total solar eclipse that crossed the United States from coast to coast 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 planet, but this time it will pass through large cities such as Mazatlán, in Mexico, Dallas, Indianapolis and Cleveland. About 44 million people live along the path of the total eclipse, and another 200 million in an adjacent 320-kilometer (200-mile) wide swath, ensuring it will be the most-viewed continental eclipse in history. history.
Virtually everyone on the continent will be able to see a partial eclipse. It can also be seen online. NASA will offer hours of transmission from several cities located along the route. The Associated Press will provide live coverage of the accompanying festivities.
And don’t forget your special glasses so you can see the eclipse safely.
Of course, everything will depend on the weather. The National Weather Service will provide daily updates on cloud cover forecasts along the route.
Here’s what you need to know about Monday’s celestial spectacle:
What is a total solar eclipse?
The Moon will line up perfectly between the Earth and the Sun at noon, blocking out sunlight. The total eclipse will last longer than usual because our natural satellite will be only 360,000 kilometers (223,000 miles) from Earth, one of the closest approaches between the two in the year. The closer the Moon is to our planet, the larger it appears in the sky from our perspective, resulting in an especially long and intense period of darkness. The total eclipse will have its longest duration when it passes through Mexico: 4 minutes and 28 seconds. In other parts of the path, such as in Syracuse, New York, the total eclipse will last just 1 and a half minutes.
What is the path of the eclipse?
The Moon’s shadow will trace a diagonal line from southwest to northeast across North America, briefly plunging communities in its path into darkness. The total eclipse will enter the continent through Mazatlán, Mexico, and exit through Newfoundland, Canada. Along that path, 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine will experience a total eclipse, including portions of Tennessee and Michigan. The towns of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois, will have the opportunity to see an eclipse for the second time, as they were also in a privileged position to appreciate the 2017 eclipse.
A comet during the eclipse?
With a little luck, a comet and four planets can be seen during the total eclipse. Jupiter will be to the left of the Sun and Venus to the right. Saturn and Mars will be to the right of Venus, but fainter. The other three planets in the solar system will be nearby, but they will be practically impossible to see with the naked eye. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is passing in front of Earth, as it does every 71 years. Barely visible, it will be located near Jupiter during the eclipse. But it will take a sudden burst of dust and gas to see the so-called demon comet without a telescope, according to Anita Cochran of the University of Texas at Austin. But don’t waste time looking for it. “There is so much to see and so little time,” she noted in an email.
What was the last total solar eclipse in the United States?
The United States has not seen a total solar eclipse since August 21, 2017, although a “ring of fire” eclipse passed through part of the country last October. The Moon was too far away at the time to completely block the Sun, allowing a bright ring to be seen around our satellite. The spectacular “ring of fire” extended from Oregon to Texas, and crossed into Central America and Colombia, before exiting through Brazil. The town of Kerrville, Texas, a short distance west of San Antonio, is again in the path of the eclipse and anticipates the arrival of large numbers of spectators.
When is the next one?
After Monday, the next total solar eclipse will not occur until 2026. But it will occur in the north of the planet, being visible in Greenland, Iceland and Spain. The next one, in 2027, will pass through Spain and North Africa, lasting an incredible 6 and a half minutes. Americans will have to wait until 2033 for another total solar eclipse, but it will be limited to Alaska. In 2044, Western Canada, Montana and North Dakota will have a prime view. And in 2045, the United States will again experience a total solar eclipse that will be visible from coast to coast.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Scientific and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
