Solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, from the NYT

Katrina Miller By Katrina Miller March 22, 2024, 6:26 a.m. ET On April 8, North America will experience its second total solar eclipse in seven years. The moon will glide over the surface of our sun, casting a shadow over a swath of Earth below. Along this path, the world will turn dark as night. Skywatchers in Mexico will be the first to see the eclipse on the mainland. From there, the show will slide north, entering the United States through Texas, then proceeding northeast before concluding for most people off the coast of Canada. Why eclipses happen is simple: the moon comes between us and the sun. But they are also complicated. So if you’ve forgotten all of your eclipse facts, tips and how-to’s since 2017, we’re here to explain it for you. Have we missed something?Let us know in the comments. But before we dive in, there is one thing to know that is more important than anything else: It is never safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse (except for the few moments when the moon has fully obscured its surface). At all other times, watch the event through protective eye equipment. Read on to learn about how to watch an eclipse safely. What is a total solar eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon orients itself between Earth and the sun, shielding the solar surface from our view. In cosmic terms, it is unusual that this happens: the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but it is about 400 times closer to us. That means that when these two celestial bodies are aligned, they appear to be the same size in the sky. What other types of eclipses are there? Annular solar eclipses occur when the moon is farther from Earth and appears too small to completely shield the sun’s surface. Instead, the outer part of the solar disk remains uncovered — a “ring of fire” in the sky. Partial solar eclipses happen when Earth, the moon and the sun are imperfectly aligned. The moon only obscures a chunk of the sun. There will be two in 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/article/total-solar-eclipse.html?ugrp=c&unlocked_article_code=1.ek0.bKJu.RVbj7sfYOaJl&smid=url-share Copy and paste the code below to embed this video on your site