An astronomical spectacle is all set to captivate skywatchers as a total solar eclipse is set to grace the skies across North America, turning day into night, on April 8. Total eclipses are dramatic and turn the sky dark, but they are only visible from a few locations.
The total solar eclipse of 2024 occuring on April 8, will cast a shadow of darkness across a 185-kilometre stretch spanning Mexico, the US, and Canada. A total of 18 US States are in the viewing path of this phenomenon.
For sky gazers in India, the timings are significant as well. The total solar eclipse is expected to commence at 9:12 pm on April 8 (IST), with the captivating moment of totality beginning at 10:08 pm and extending until the early hours of April 9, 2024, at 2:22 am. The Pacific coast of Mexico will experience totality first, around 11:07 am PDT, and the occurrence will leave Maine at around 1:30 pm PDT. The entire spectacle is estimated to unfold over approximately two and a half hours, with the magical totality phase lasting for a remarkable four minutes, as per NASA.