The moon will cover the sun on 8 April for people in parts of the US, Canada and Mexico, creating an experience unlike any other. A total solar eclipse is an incredible experience, explains Patricia Reiff at Rice University in Texas. The temperature suddenly drops, it gets dark and you can see stars and planets during the day. There are all sorts of phenomena to watch out for before and after totality, too, like strange shadows and so-called diamond rings – bright flashes of light caused by the sun’s rays passing along the uneven surface of the moon.
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