The total solar eclipse has begun!
The Great American Eclipse- nicknamed as the total solar eclipse for its long path over North America- will be visible in the sky today over parts of Mexico, 15 U.S., states, and eastern Carolina. This is the first total solar eclipse to grace North America in 7 years.
10 million people will have the opportunity to witness this stunning view if the conditions are clear as the moon passes between Earth and the sun and temporarily blocks the sun’s light.
Where is the solar eclipse first witnessed?
The Mexican beach resort town of Mazatlan was the first major viewing spot along the “path of totality” in North America. Thousands of people gathered along the coastal promenade, setting themselves up in deck chairs with solar-safe eyewear as an orchestra played the “Star Wars” movie theme. The crowds burst into cheers and applause and the eclipse reached totality.
The period of totality, lasting up to 4 1/2 minutes depending the observer’s location, was followed by a number of other eclipse effects. A partial eclipse, in which the moon obscures only a portion of the sun, was unfolding across most of the continental United States.
At upto 4 minutes and 28 seconds, the total eclipse of 2024 surpasses the duration of the one that traversed the United States from coast to coast in 2017. That one clocked in at up to 2 minutes and 42 seconds. According to NASA, total eclipses can last anywhere from 10 seconds to about 7-1/2 minutes.
Some other cities along the path of totality include: San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; both Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, site of the famed waterfall, and Montreal, Quebec.
About 32 million people in the United States live within the path of totality, with federal officials predicting another 5 million people will travel to be there. Countless eclipse-watching events were being convened at bars, stadiums, fairgrounds and parks along the path of totality.
“It’s been on the calendar for years,” said Tim Wurst, 62. “It was very dusky and dim the last eclipse, but this one should be just all-out dark.”
#Watch what President Joe Biden has to say as posted on X
An eclipse is worth marveling at.
But don't be silly, folks – play it safe and wear protective eyewear. pic.twitter.com/S6REAiZ735
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 8, 2024
Experts urge the use of protective solar glasses to prevent eye damage that would otherwise occur from staring directly at the sun. Only during the few minutes of totality can the sun can be safely viewed without such eyewear, they said.
Overcast skies are an eclipse-chaser’s worst fear. As the U.S. National Weather Services forecast as of Monday morning was for “a rapid untimely increase of clouds” in Southern Texas; less worrying “high thin clouds” for a swathe from Arkansas to the Midwest; and the clearest skies in northern New England.
Its a total of 160 minutes process where it will take about 80 minutes from the moment the moon first begins to cover the sun to the moment of totality, then next 80 minutes to complete the process in reverse.
