Cosmologists: the Great North American Solar Eclipse Will Occur on April 8, 2024

Awe-inspiring moments await skywatchers in two years.

The Great North American Solar Eclipse, which will occur in 2024, will be spectacular.

On April 8, 2024, it will travel throughout the country, encompassing a large area of territory from Mexico to Canada and turning daylight into nighttime darkness.

In 2017, the United States witnessed its first total solar eclipse in 40 years, which was a sight to behold for everyone.

Another complete solar eclipse is about to occur in North America.

Two years isn't a long time. Total solar eclipses have long been popular, prompting people to come from all over the world to see them.

Total solar eclipse in America

(Photo : ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

The Great North American Solar Eclipse will virtually split the country two years from now, on April 8, 2024, plunging a 124-mile-wide swath of territory reaching from Mexico to Canada into night-like darkness.

Despite the fact that two years may seem like a long time, given the popularity of total solar eclipses, it's about time to start making plans for watching, especially if you intend on visiting to see the event.

What is a total eclipse?

When the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned, one heavenly body casts a shadow on the other, and an eclipse occurs, as per Space.

Whenever the moon moves between both the sun and the Earth, it casts its shadow across the Earth's surface, making the sun appear to darken in certain locations.

When the moon is at precisely the proper distance from the Earth, it blocks the entire sun in a total solar eclipse.

On the other hand, an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is farther away from the Earth and so does not completely hide the sun.

As previously stated, the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse will begin at 10:51 a.m. on April 8, 2024, near Mazatlan, Mexico.

The partial eclipse will begin at sunrise, and the finest view of the eclipse will occur when the moon covers the sun at sunset, as per the Hindustan Times.

Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine will be affected by the solar eclipse.

However, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recommends that you only observe the solar eclipse while using special ISO-approved glasses.

Why is it a big deal?

Total eclipses aren't all that uncommon, occurring every 18 months on average.

However, because the moon's shadow is so minuscule when projected onto the Earth, only a small portion of the world is affected by anyone's eclipse.

On average, a total solar eclipse occurs once every 375 years in a certain region.

It is not only uncommon for the United States to witness a total solar eclipse (just 21 have happened ever since the nation's inception in 1776), but it's also exceptional for the United States to witness a full eclipse for a total solar eclipse to travel such a long path through such a large part of the country.

The previous cross-country total solar eclipse occurred in 1918, before the 2017 eclipse.

When observing solar eclipses, the most crucial regulation is to use special glasses authorized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Without proper eye protection, never gaze directly at the sun, since this can cause irreversible damage to your eyes.

When the moon hides the sun during totality, however, it is safe to stare at the sun without glasses.