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The longsighted wait is over . Hopefully by now you have found your hindquarters to see the great celestial event , set up your telescope and are quick to savour today’stotal solar eclipsethat will bring eery swarthiness to a long swath of the United States , Canada and Mexico during the few moments when the moon covers the sunlight ’s case completely . The only affair you require to know now is when exactly entireness will begin wherever you are .
Totality is a completely unlike experience from 99 % occultation coverage . First and foremost , totality isthe only secure time to seem directly at the sunwithoutsolar occultation glassesor other certified oculus protection . But viewers within the route of total will also have the opportunity to view a host of unique eclipse phenomena .
Eclipse watchers across the United States are gearing up for the spectacular celestial event.
Only during totalitydo the skies change state twilight - dark , and only during totality is the sun ’s outer ambiance , or St. Elmo’s fire , seeable as wispy projection of light emanating from behind the synodic month . Being inside the path of integrality is also the only room to see eclipse lineament such asBaily ’s beads , which are the last rays of light sneaking past the mountains on the moon .
Totality occurs in a 115 - mile - wide ( 185 kilometers ) stretch from Mexico to Canada , crossing 15 US states ( although two res publica , Tennessee and Michigan , will only be barely glanced by the moon ’s phantom ) . In the US , sum will start in Texas at 1:27 post-mortem examination CDT and will terminate in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT .
The duration of totality depend on how penny-pinching you are to the center of the path , and how far southwest you are . The maximum duration of totality for the April 8 eclipse is 4 bit , 27 seconds in Torreón , Mexico .
Map of path of totality across North America for the April 8th solar eclipse.
What time is the eclipse?
Here ’s a detailed breakdown of what time aggregate starts and stops in each state it passes through , according toNASA .
Note : The partial phases of the eclipse last about an hour and 20 moment before and after totality , and will be seeable to some extent across the entire United States . Here ’s how tosafely bask the fond eclipse on April 8 .
To learn more about the eclipse ’s timing in your accurate emplacement , visitNASA ’s 2024 occultation information page .
A photograph of the 2017 total solar eclipse, taken at the Oregon State Fair Grounds, Salem, Ore.
What to expect during totality
The track of integrality is the path of the moon ’s trace across the Earth . By consider the occultation from within the track of entirety , you may be able to see a whole legion of unual phenomena affiliate with the apparition ’s passage ( look on how cloudy the sky are overhead ) .
As the moon ’s shadow approaches , there will be a detectable dip in temperature , commonly between 5 to 10 point Fahrenheit ( 2.8 to 5.6 degrees Celsius ) . As the primer cool down , low-spirited - level swarm may also disappear , helping a bit with the view overhead .
— How and where to watch the April 8 solar eclipse online for free
— 10 weird things that happen during a solar occultation
— full solar occultation April 2024 : The 10 great cities within the path of totality
About 30 seconds before aggregate , wavy business line recognise as apparition bands may come along on the sides of building and vehicles . Just a few irregular before totality , you may be able to see Bailey ’s beadsappear around the edge of the moon . If the sky are comparatively clear , entirety will bestow a wall of shadow that turns midday to twilight . ( This is the only time when it ’s good to remove yoursolar eclipseglasses . ) When swarthiness come , lustrous stars and major planet may be seeable in the sky , while a 360 - point sunset may come along on the horizon . creature may start to act queerly , maturate eerily quiet and potentially demonstrate their nighttime behaviors . colours around you will look different , with greens and blues popping while Bolshevik appear dimmer . When the sunshine is fully eclipsed , its Saint Ulmo’s light will be clearly seeable behind the moon .
savor this instant , whatever it fetch , as the next eclipse over the contiguous United States is n’t until 2044 .
