Despite the forecast for cloudy weather, millions of people are flocking to a narrow corridor from Mexico to the United States and beyond to Canada to watch the total solar eclipse on Monday.
Vermont and Maine in the US, as well as New Brunswick and Newfoundland in Canada, promise the best weather for viewing the solar eclipse at its end.
This year’s total solar eclipse is expected to be viewed by the largest number of people in North America ever, as the eclipse will be visible from heavily populated regions. If the weather is favorable, almost anywhere in North America will be able to see at least part of the moment when the Moon completely blocks the Sun for more than four minutes.
During the eclipse, twilight, in which only the sun’s outer atmosphere or corona is visible, is expected to last long enough for birds and other animals to quiet down and for planets, stars and perhaps even comets to become visible.
The eclipse will last up to four minutes and 28 seconds. That’s nearly twice as long as seven years ago, when the eclipse was visible from coast to coast of the United States. This time the Moon is closer to Earth. The next solar eclipse of this magnitude in the US is expected in 21 years.
Monday’s eclipse will begin in the Pacific Ocean and will be visible from land for the first time in Mazatlán, Mexico. After that, it will be seen in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and 12 more US states up to Newfoundland, Canada. The solar eclipse will end in the North Atlantic. The moon’s shadow will cross the continent for 6,500 kilometers in one hour and 40 minutes.
The approximately 115-mile (185-kilometer) wide eclipse band includes several major cities, such as Dallas, Cleveland, New York, and Montreal. An estimated 44 million people live within the view of the eclipse, and several hundred million more live near the band. In addition, a total solar eclipse has attracted many interested people, amateur astronomers, scientists and other people. Near the eclipse band, hotels and flights are sold out and roads are jammed.
The solar eclipse can be viewed using suitable protective glasses.
2024-04-08 07:16:42
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