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Thetotal solar eclipse in North Americais finally underway . Over the next several hours , day will turn into night for nearly 44 million people across Mexico , the U.S. and Canada as the moon crosses in front of the Lord’s Day , obstruct all sunlight for a precious few hour .
If you ca n’t make the upshot in somebody — or want to see a zoomed - in view of the partial and total phase angle of the occultation — you may tune in toNASA ’s live webcast of the rarefied supernal event right on here on Live Science , starting at 1 p.m. ET .
Total solar eclipse.
At 9:51 a.m. local clock time ( 12:51 p.m. ET ) on Mexico ’s westerly coast , skywatchers in Mazatlán will be the first to plunge into darkness as the moon to the full masks the Sunday , marking the beginning oftotality . The path of the eclipse will then cross three other Mexican urban center before move into the U.S. , starting in Texas and moving on to cross or bear on 14 other states . It will exit North America from Canada ’s Newfoundland at 5:16 p.m. local time ( 3:46 p.m. ET ) .
Those prosperous enough to be within or near the 115 - international mile - full ( 185 kilometers)path of totalitywill be able-bodied to witness a serial publication of rarefied phenomena , including a few unique to the totalsolar eclipse . Here ’s what to expect .
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The diamond-ring effect occurred at the beginning and end of totality during a total solar eclipse.
The diamond ring
Of all the occultation - related phenomenon , the most breathtaking may be the dazzling hoop of light that appear seconds before the sun ’s hopeful disc is block out by the moon . Known as the " diamond - tintinnabulation effect , " this result repeats as totality terminate when the sun startle becoming visible once again .
Baily’s beads
As you watch the lunation ’s silhouette during the eclipse , you may mark a sliver of sunlight appearing to shape a bowed stringed instrument of beads . Known as " Baily ’s beads , " the bright spots are because of sunlight shinny through the mountains and valleys on the moon ’s uneven surface .
Shadow bands
Meanwhile , on Earth , thin , wavy light and dark stripe will dance on the undercoat just before and after totality . These eerieshadow bandsare unequalled to a full solar eclipse and occur due to the same phenomenon that makes star twinkle : ripple distortions in Earth ’s upper air filters bits and pieces of already - asphyxiate sunlight , which forms a seeable convention on solid - bleached surfaces . As totality approach , the brightening radiation pattern shifts from being jumble to coordinate , and it render to a dim chaotic pattern after totality terminate .
Stars, planets and a ‘Mother of Dragons’ comet
NASA forecast that every location within the path of aggregate will experience dark for up to four arcminute . Thanks to the drop in sun , you may be capable to see bright stars and planets in the daytime sky . Venus will come out about 15 degrees west - southwest of the sun while Jupiter will make an appearance about 30 level due east - NE of the sun .
In Jupiter ’s neighborhood , the well - knowngreen comet 12P / Pons - Brooks — also call in the " Mother of Dragons comet " — may be seeable . The icy , city - sizing space rock , which is on a 71 - twelvemonth domain around the sun and began erupting last July , may be seen moving in front of champion during the eclipse . However , you will likely need apair of stargazing binocularsto consider this one , as its diffused spark will be too faint to pluck up with the naked eye .
Other major planet including Saturn , Mars and Mercury may be visible depending on local weather condition conditions . Some of the brightest stars in our sky , such as Sirius , Capella and Rigel , may also be seen among a sprinkling of other stars .
The diamond-ring effect occurred at the beginning and end of totality during a total solar eclipse.
Rings of light
— How and where to look on the April 8 solar eclipse online for free
— These occultation - themed position will have totality on April 8 , 2024
— Total solar occultation April 2024 : The 10 biggest urban center within the path of totality
The Baily’s Beads effect during the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 above Madras, Oregon.
While those outside the way of totality will overlook out on these specs , skywatchers in all 48 conterminous U.S. states will see at least a partial occultation for up to 1 hour and 20 minutes , according toNASA . During a partial occultation , citizenry near tree may see countless crescent - comparable light features appear on the ground . These " rings of clean " form because sunlight shines through bantam spaces between leaves , causing them to behave likepinhole projectorsand cast the sun ’s crescent shape onto the ground .
Penumbral shadows cast during a solar eclipse during a solar eclipse in Driftwood, Texas, US.
This simulated image shows the sky as seen from Indianapolis, Indiana at 3:07 p.m. local time on April 8, 2024.
Crescents of light are projected onto the ground during the partial phases of a solar eclipse due to light from the Sun passing through gaps between the leaves of trees, a pinhole effect. This is a safe and indirect way to view a solar eclipse.
