Total solar eclipse 2024: When, Where and how to watch

On April 8, people in North America can see a total solar eclipse, in which the moon totally obscures the sun.

On Monday, millions of people in North America will have the opportunity to see a really unique natural phenomenon as a total solar eclipse will be visible from various locations in Mexico, the US, and Canada.

The total eclipse – which occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sun – will darken skies for a few minutes “as if it were dawn or dusk”, the US’s NASA space agency explains.

It will be seen from what is called as the "path of totality," a band that is 185 km (115 mi) broad and extends from the western coast of Mexico across the US and up to the easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

“Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun,” NASA says on its website.

According to Anthony Aveni, an emeritus professor at Colgate University in New York and the author of the book In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery of Solar Eclipses, the path of totality is truly "where it's at" on Monday.

He explained to Al Jazeera, "It's that precious three minutes... of totality when you see a whole range of phenomena that you just don't see in everyday life." "You stop what you're doing and stare in awe at nature because it takes your breath away."

How frequently do total solar eclipses happen then? How much time does it usually last? How and where can you view without risk? Everything you require is provided here.

When and from where will the entire eclipse be visible?

The total eclipse on Monday will be visible from several locations in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

It will enter continental North America in Mazatlan, in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, at 11:07am local time (18:07 GMT). It will exit the continent on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16pm local time (19:46 GMT).

In the US, the eclipse will enter the state of Texas at 1:27pm local time (18:27 GMT) and exit in Maine at 3:35pm local time (19:35 GMT).

It will only last a few minutes, and depending on your location along the path of totality, you can determine exactly when it will be visible.

For instance, totality begins at 3:16 p.m. local time (19:16 GMT) and concludes at 3:20 p.m. (19:20 GMT) in Erie, Pennsylvania.

A few minutes later, it will arrive in Buffalo, New York, where totality begins at 3:18 p.m. local time (19:18 GMT) and concludes at 3:22 p.m. (19:22 GMT).

Monday's eclipse will also be partially visible for almost two hours, both before and after totality.

What transpires when the sun is completely eclipsed?

The moon travels around Earth once a month in addition to the Earth's orbit around the sun.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, completely obstructing its light on one side and throwing a shadow across a tiny portion of the planet on the other.

The moon's orbit is shaped like a narrow "path" or track by the dark inner region of the shadow, called the "umbra." The regions where the total eclipse can be seen are those along this path that are directly beneath the shadow, particularly along its centerline.

This track is 16,000 km (10,000 miles) long and roughly 160 km (100 miles) wide.

“If it was a lunar eclipse, it would last for a few hours and people around the world could see it. But the difference is that total eclipses only happen over a specific path of that new moon,” said Khady Adama Ndao, a NASA eclipse ambassador.

Only on a fresh moon does this eclipse happen. And what causes a total eclipse is the moon's orbital position in relation to the sun, Earth, and all three at a particular moment in time.

During an eclipse, the moon will appear to be completely covered by Earth, but in actuality, the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun. The moon appears to be large enough to cover the sun during a total eclipse due to the increased distance between the moon and the sun.

On Monday, those who are not in the direct path of totality but are nearby may be able to experience a partial eclipse. At that point, the moon just partially blocks the sun.

A partial eclipse can be seen in areas that are partially covered by the "penumbra," or dim portions of the moon's larger shadow.

What is the appearance of a total eclipse?

During an eclipse, the moon will gradually block the sun, resulting in a black sky, until it reaches the point of "totality." At that point, the sun will almost completely obscure itself, leaving only the corona, or faint ring of light, visible.

The moon will move away after a few minutes, causing those in the path of totality to witness another partial eclipse. The sun will once more be fully visible.

What else takes place at the totality moment?

The temperature drops, and animals begin to act more like they are in the night.

Birds may start to vary their chirping habits, and nocturnal animals like owls and bats may begin to wake up and seek food.

It could also becoming easier to see stars and other celestial objects hanging in the black sky.

A black shadow would be visible traveling over Earth if one were to stand on the moon or a space station orbiting the planet.

How long will April 8's total solar eclipse last?

From the time the moon first covers the sun until it crosses over and stops doing so, a total solar eclipse can last anywhere from two to three hours.

But in most locations this year, the totality phase will only last three and a half to four minutes.

The lengthiest duration of totality will occur in places that are on or very near the centerline, while areas farther from the centerline will experience lesser durations of totality.

On Monday, there will be the longest totality period—4 minutes and 28 seconds—close to Torreon, Mexico. This is due to the fact that the region is closest to both the umbral shadow's central line and the point at which its path is perpendicular to the surface of the Earth.

Totality has previously lasted anything from a few seconds to seven and a half minutes in various locations.

The Earth's curvature and the angle at which the moon's shadow impacts are two of the many reasons why the eclipse and the period of totality have different lengths.

What are some historical and cultural myths regarding total solar eclipses?

People have been fascinated by total solar eclipses for thousands of years. However, the event was frequently interpreted as a terrible omen in ancient civilizations.

In ancient China, for example, people believed that solar eclipses happened because “a celestial dragon” was eating the sun, according to NASA. As a result, people made loud noises during eclipses “to frighten the dragon away”.

The Inca people of South America believed solar eclipses were a sign of the sun god Inti’s anger.

Decision-makers in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) believed that a solar eclipse indicated the ruler's imminent danger, which prompted them to institute the "substitute king" system.

For example, to ensure that the real Assyrian king was spared harm, a stand-in would be clothed and ultimately sacrificed as a sacrifice “for the evil fate that was destined for the true king,” according to curator Sarah Graff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

individuals tend to think that individuals in the past were less intellectual or more superstitious about eclipses than people in the present, according to Aveni at Colgate University. "But it's an opportunity to have a conversation in every situation," he said to Al Jazeera.

For instance, people made noise in the ancient Andean world during an eclipse “to alert the sun not to believe what the moon is whispering in his ear, which is that we people that live down here on Earth do bad things at night”, Aveni said. “This becomes an occasion to have a discussion about lying – that’s really what it’s about.”

Can spectacles be worn to see a total solar eclipse?

Experts emphasize how important safety is.

People can see a total eclipse with their unaided eyes during the brief period of time when the moon totally obscures the sun.

However, you should utilize a portable solar viewing apparatus or specially made protective solar glasses during the partial eclipse that occurs both before and after totality.

"People could hurt their eyes if they look without the right protection," stated B Ralph Chou, president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

"And if they get hurt, they do have a significant risk of developing a permanent loss of vision, depending on how often and for how long they look at the sun without protection."

This risk is due to a number of factors such as the intensity and radiation of the sun’s light, as well as the absence of pain receptors in the eye, which makes it easier to stare for too long

Pupils may also be less dilated during an eclipse than on a typical day, which increases the threat of the bright light entering. Ndao, the NASA eclipse ambassador, described it as "like being in the dark, when suddenly, someone just flashes a flashlight in front of your eyes."

How are individuals getting ready?

Residents in the towns and cities that fall under the path of totality have been given eclipse glasses in the weeks preceding Monday's event. Various institutions such as scientific institutes and museums are hosting viewing parties.

Monday's school closures in the US and Canada were announced to allow pupils to take part in eclipse viewing programs. In addition to preventing safety hazards, schools have expressed concern over the eclipse falling on a school day when classes are supposed to be out.

According to Barbara Gruber, assistant director of education and public outreach at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in the US, groups of individuals are also traveling in private aircraft to witness the totality.

Are you guaranteed to see the total eclipse if you’re in the path of totality?

Unfortunately not. Weather conditions will play an important factor in what hopeful eclipse-watchers will be able to see on Monday.

In other words, if it’s cloudy, that could ruin the visibility.

If you’re not in North America, several institutions will be hosting live coverage of the total eclipse, including NASA.

What is the frequency of total solar eclipses?

While a total solar eclipse usually happens every 18 months, Monday might be the final eclipse to occur in the United States for at least another nine years.

According to Ndao, many complete eclipses are only visible from the water and might not be viewed by anyone at all.

Furthermore, after a total eclipse occurs in a given region, the phenomena might not repeat for hundreds of years.

“On average a single location will experience a total solar eclipse about every 350 years, but averages can be misleading and some lucky places will get an eclipse in just a few years”, Gruber told Al Jazeera.

When is the next solar eclipse that is total?

August 12, 2026, will see the next total solar eclipse across Iceland, Spain, and Greenland. On August 2, 2027, almost exactly a year later, one will be visible from the Saudi peninsula, Gibraltar, and northern Africa.

The next total eclipse in the United States will happen in 2033, although it will only be seen from Alaska.

According to NRAO, a total eclipse will be visible in North Dakota, Montana, and Western Canada in 2044. The US will be able to observe a total eclipse from coast to coast in the following year.

However, experts predict that total eclipses will eventually cease to occur entirely, albeit not for some time to come.

As the universe expands with the moon moving further away from the Earth each year, and the sun gets bigger, the moon will eventually become too small in the sky to block the whole sun.

That day is still a distant reality though. A NASA study in 2017 estimated that total eclipses would end in 563 million years.