North America faces a total solar eclipse on Monday. Millions of people in the United States, Canada and western Mexico will be watching the sky in fascination this afternoon at 3:30 PM Eastern Time (9:30 PM CEST) to witness the rare event.
The area from which the complete eclipse of the sun is visible extends about 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide and includes cities such as Dallas, Indianapolis and Buffalo.
About 32 million people live in areas where Monday’s solar eclipse will be visible, while another 150 million live within 200 miles.
Hotel rooms fully booked, special flights
In the areas mentioned there is a festive atmosphere like on the 4th of July. The hotel rooms have been fully booked for months. In addition, US airlines offer special flights to give passengers an exclusive view of the cloudy sun.
Clouds and rain can spoil the view for many
For many people, however, the weather forecasts are not particularly good: The Weather Channel predicts rain and sometimes even storms, especially for the southern United States. Nevertheless, parties are planned in many places, millions of trips have been booked and high traffic volumes are expected.
The last time people in the United States witnessed a solar eclipse was in 2017, but from a smaller area.
A spectacle that cannot be admired in Europe
The astronomical spectacle cannot be observed from Europe. A partial solar eclipse can only be seen on the western edge of the continent – for example in parts of Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Great Britain.
What is a solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun.
How often does a solar eclipse occur?
There are approximately two to five solar eclipses worldwide every year, but this also includes partial solar eclipses. The Sun being completely eclipsed only happens about once every one to two years. This is only visible from a small part of the Earth. On average, a total solar eclipse can only be observed from any given location on Earth about every 375 years.
When will we see another solar eclipse in Europe?
The last total solar eclipse was visible from the US in 2017, from Mexico in 1991 and from Canada in 1979. The next one – after April 8 – for the US and Canada will not be announced until 2044, for Mexico before 2052. The last time that a total solar eclipse was observed in Central Europe in August 1999; the next one will take place in September 2081.
Do astronomers also look at the sky?
The answer, of course, is yes: the event is a “wonderful opportunity for scientific research,” according to NASA CEO Bill Nelson. The American space agency observes, records and measures the solar eclipse using aircraft, balloons and observatories on Earth. Even the astronauts of the International Space Station (ISS) can watch the spectacle.
Source: Krone
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