On 8 April, a total solar eclipse will sweep across Mexico, the US and Canada. This kind of eclipse only occurs when the sun and moon line up perfectly in the sky so the moon covers the entire disc of the sun, casting a shadow on Earth. The path that this shadow takes as it rushes across the ground at speeds in excess of 2400 kilometres per hour is called the path of totality, and during this eclipse it will pass from Mexico’s west coast, up across 13 US states and through Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland in Canada. At any given location, totality will last between about 90 seconds and nearly 4.5 minutes.
During this time, the sky will be dark as twilight and temperatures will drop up to 10 degrees. Viewers will be able to remove their eclipse glasses – crucial during the partial phase of the eclipse – and look directly at the sun as it is covered by the moon. This coverage renders the sun’s outermost layer, the corona, visible. During other times, it is too dim to see in the glare of sunlight. Total solar eclipses like this one are valuable times for researchers studying the sun, and they have led to enormous scientific advances over the years.
On 8 April a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the US and Canada. Our special series is covering everything you need to know, from how and when to see it to some of the weirdest eclipse experiences in history. Topics:Solar Eclipse 2024