On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse, known as the Great North American Eclipse, will traverse North America, offering a spectacular celestial display. This event will plunge various regions into complete darkness for nearly five minutes, attracting astronomy enthusiasts and the curious alike.
This year's eclipse is particularly exceptional as the Moon will be closer to Earth than usual, occurring just after its perigee on April 7, 2024. This proximity will allow the Moon to appear 5.5% larger than normal, fully covering the Sun and casting totality on specific locations near Nazas and Torreón, Mexico, for a maximum of 4 minutes and 28.13 seconds.
The Great North American Eclipse is a unique occurrence in the 21st century, visible in its entirety only across three nations: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. For Canada, it marks the first total solar eclipse since 1979, while Mexico last experienced one in 1991 and the United States in 2017. Following this event, the next total solar eclipse in the U.S. will not occur until August 23, 2044.
The path of totality will begin in the Pacific, touching Mexican towns such as Mazatlán, Durango, and Torreón before moving into the United States, where cities like Dallas, Austin, and Indianapolis will experience the brief darkness. The phenomenon will conclude in Canada, allowing cities like Hamilton, Montreal, and Fredericton to witness this celestial marvel. U.S. cities such as Dallas will serve as prime observation points, enhancing the event's significance for local communities.
Beyond North America, the eclipse will be partially visible in remote locations including Svalbard in Norway, Iceland, Ireland, parts of Great Britain, northwestern Spain and Portugal, and in Atlantic islands such as the Azores and the Canary Islands. These areas will enjoy the spectacle during twilight, providing ideal conditions for observing celestial bodies like comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, located near Jupiter.
In Central and South America, the eclipse will also be partially visible, from Belize to Panama, the Greater Antilles, and northern South America, including countries like Colombia. This 2024 eclipse is poised to be a global event, uniting people from various regions in the appreciation of one of the universe's most fascinating natural phenomena.