A total solar eclipse will obscure America from Mexico to Canada this year

On April 8, 2024, United State He will witness an astronomical phenomenon of great importance: A Total solar eclipse Skies will darken along a path extending from the Pacific Coast Mexico To the northeast of Canadastarting at approximately 02:07 PM and ending at 5:19 PM local time. New York.

This represents an event that will cross several American states A unique opportunity for millions of peopleBecause the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the United States will not occur until August 23, 2044. According to a potAbout 31.6 million people live in the path of totality, a band about 320 kilometers wide where the eclipse will be visible in its total phase.

During this phenomenon, the moon passes between… Land The sun completely blocks sunlight and casts shadows on the planet. “When the moon completely blocks the sun, a Total solar eclipseNASA explained on its website.

It should be noted that in August 2017, United State Shahad A Total solar eclipseIt is the first to cross the entire continent in nearly 100 years. More recently, in October 2023, an annular solar eclipse was observed, in which the Sun was not completely covered, as also detailed by the space agency.

he Path of eclipse 2024 It will bring darkness through cities like Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansasand then it will advance to states farther north and east illinois, Kentucky, IndianaAnd Ohio. And then the areas in Pennsylvania And New York You will encounter this phenomenon before heading to it Vermont, New Hampshire And whoFinally leaving the American continent towards Canada at around 4:25 pm

For those who want to view the eclipse, it is necessary to take safety measures to protect their eyesight. “It is important to use protective eclipse glasses to avoid eye injuries.”And stressed a pot. “Except during Brief total eclipse phaseExperts warned that when the moon completely obscures the bright face of the sun, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without the protection of specialized eyes to monitor solar energy.

For this purpose, eclipse glasses are required, which are much darker than regular sunglasses and must meet international standards. ISO 12312-2Necessary to avoid eye injuries.

The partial phases of the eclipse, the period before and after totality, require the same attention with regard to visual safety. “Looking at any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars or telescope without a special solar filter in the front of the optics will immediately cause serious eye injuries.”to caution a pot.

For those who do not have access to eclipse glasses or solar projectors, indirect viewing methods are recommended, such as a pinhole projector, which allows you to safely observe the image of the Sun projected onto a nearby surface.

In addition to eye protection, skin safety becomes important due to prolonged exposure to the sun while observing the eclipse. Applying sunscreen, wearing a hat and protective clothing are essential measures to prevent skin damage. “If you were to see a total eclipse, you could be in direct sunlight for hours.” Published by the US Space Agency.