Total solar eclipse will last four minutes – 04/07/2024 – Science

On April 8, millions of people will be able to follow the phenomenon in countries across North America. Parts of Canada, the US and Mexico will suddenly become dark as night for a few minutes around 3pm EDT.

The reason is the total solar eclipse that will cross the continent, starting in Mexico and ending in Canada, passing through several states in the United States. According to NASA, the North American space agency, the path along which the eclipse will travel and can be seen is around 185 kilometers wide.

For the millions of people living in the eclipse’s path, sunlight will be temporarily blocked, causing a state of momentary darkness during the day.

Anyone who misses this total solar eclipse will have to wait until 2045, when the next one is scheduled for North America.

Brazilians will not be able to watch the eclipse on April 8, but the phenomenon will be broadcast live on NASA’s official channels.

What happens during a solar eclipse?

When the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, it blocks some of the sunlight reaching Earth and casts a shadow on its surface. This event is called a solar eclipse.

The phenomenon happens in the same way when a palm is used to shade the face and block sunlight — but on a much larger cosmic scale.

During an eclipse, observers may notice strange crescent-shaped shadows on the ground, a sudden drop in temperature, and even atypical behavior among birds and animals.

How to watch a solar eclipse?

It is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing, whether in the event of an eclipse or not. Direct radiation from the star can damage the retina.

Looking at the Sun through the lens of a camera, binoculars, or telescope without a special solar filter can also instantly cause serious eye damage.

It is recommended that observers wear eclipse glasses or glasses with solar filters to watch the event. Glasses that have the ISO 12312-2 code, from the International Organization for Standardization, on the inside are the safest to use.

Is solar eclipse dangerous?

A solar eclipse is simply the Moon blocking the Sun’s view – the star only casts a shadow and does not introduce any new harmful radiation.

The strange ring-shaped glow seen coming from the Sun during an eclipse is the star’s normal light.

Therefore, contrary to what some urban legends say, the solar eclipse is not dangerous. Food does not spoil during the phenomenon and pregnant women are also not harmed.

Is it easy to observe a solar eclipse?

Although total solar eclipses occur practically every year and a half or two, many of them pass through remote areas, making them difficult to observe.

The 2024 eclipse will pass through several major cities in the United States, such as Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and Burlington.

The duration of observing the eclipse, however, depends on the location from where it will be seen. According to NASA, it is likely to be visible for about four minutes in different locations.

If the weather is good enough, the solar corona – the outer layer of the star’s atmosphere – can be seen from Earth during the event.

However, there may be bad weather – there is a forecast for clouds on April 8 – and obscure the view of the phenomenon.

Some parts of New York, Vermont, Maine and Quebec are expected to have better luck with a clearer view than the southern regions of the United States.