Experience the Spectacular Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th

TLDROn April 8th, a total solar eclipse will occur, where the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the sunlight. This rare event will be visible in North America and will create moments of darkness in the middle of the day. It is a fascinating phenomenon that happens about once a year somewhere on the planet, but this eclipse is special because it will pass through many North American cities, giving them a chance to experience minutes of totality.

Key insights

🌑A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sunlight.

🌍The sun is about 400 times bigger than the moon, but because the moon is about 400 times closer to the Earth, they appear to be the same size.

🌥️During totality, the sky becomes dark as night and crickets may start chirping.

👀It is important to never look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, but with the right safety equipment, you can observe the moon's shadow taking a chunk out of the sun.

🌌The total eclipse path is narrow, and being just a few miles away from the centerline can make a big difference in experiencing totality.

Q&A

What is a total solar eclipse?

—A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking out the sunlight and creating moments of darkness on the Earth.

When is the total solar eclipse happening?

—The total solar eclipse is happening on April 8th.

Where can I see the total solar eclipse?

—The total solar eclipse will be visible in North America, passing through several cities along its path of totality.

Can I look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse?

—No, it is not safe to look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse. You should always use proper safety equipment to observe the eclipse.

What makes this eclipse special?

—This eclipse is special because it will pass through many North American cities, giving them a chance to experience minutes of totality.

Timestamped Summary

00:00On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will occur, where the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the sunlight.

00:13During the eclipse, the moon's shadow will take a chip out of the sun, slowly blocking out more and more of it.

00:32As the eclipse progresses, it will become dark as night, and crickets may start chirping.

01:17If you have the right safety equipment, you can observe the eclipse and see the moon's shadow taking a chunk out of the sun.

01:44The total eclipse path is narrow, and just a few miles can make a big difference in experiencing totality.

02:08The total eclipse will pass through several North American cities, including Austin, Dallas, Carbondale, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Montreal, and Burlington.

02:41In the Bay Area, there will be a 35% partial eclipse, where the sky might darken a little and the Shadows on the ground will have a chunk taken out of them.

03:24The Exploratorium will be live streaming the total eclipse on its website from locations in Mexico and Texas.

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