The Science Behind the 2024 Eclipse

🌕The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will provide a unique opportunity to witness the moon completely blocking the sun and revealing the sun's corona.

🔆Compared to a partial eclipse, a total solar eclipse offers a completely different experience, with the moon's shadow covering a larger area due to its closer proximity to Earth.

🌑During the total solar eclipse, the sun's corona will be visible to the naked eye, creating a stunning visual spectacle.

⚡️Skywatchers will not only experience total darkness but also a longer period of darkness due to the moon's closer position to the Earth.

😎To safely view the eclipse, it is recommended to use specially designed glasses to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays.

What is a total solar eclipse?

—A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun's light and causing a temporary darkness.

What is the difference between a partial and total solar eclipse?

—In a partial solar eclipse, only a portion of the sun is blocked by the moon, resulting in a partial darkening of the sky. In a total solar eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun, creating a brief period of total darkness.

Why is the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, unique?

—The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, is unique because the moon's shadow from this eclipse is larger than usual due to the moon's closer proximity to Earth.

What is the sun's corona?

—The sun's corona is the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, consisting of plasma and extending millions of miles into space. During a total solar eclipse, the corona becomes visible as the moon blocks the sun's bright surface.

How often do total solar eclipses occur?

—Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on the Earth's surface approximately every 18 months. However, each specific location may experience a total solar eclipse less frequently.

00:10The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, is a unique event where the moon will completely block the sun, allowing the sun's corona to be visible.

00:17Compared to a partial eclipse, a total solar eclipse offers a completely different experience due to the moon's closer position to Earth.

00:24During the total solar eclipse, the sun's corona, the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, will be visible to the naked eye.

00:44Skywatchers will not only experience total darkness but also a longer period of darkness as the moon's shadow covers a larger area.

01:01To safely view the eclipse, it is recommended to use specially designed glasses to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays.

01:36The total solar eclipse over Erie, PA, will occur between 3:15 and 3:20 PM, making it a once-in-a-lifetime event.

02:52A total solar eclipse appears somewhere on the Earth's surface about every 18 months, but for Erie, it is a rare occurrence.

03:05The next total solar eclipse over Erie won't happen until the year 2144.