A Total Solar Eclipse will be visible to various parts of North America on Monday, April 8, 2024. This event showcases the Moon completely covering the Sun, providing a short moment of darkness and a spectacular sight for us to witness. For a reference on which areas the eclipse will be visible, check out this video from NASA
We duly remind everyone to observe solar safety. Do not look directly at the Sun without proper solar glasses and use appropriate solar filters for your equipment. Improper solar observation can lead to permanent eye damage.
With that warning out of the way, here is a summary of the 5 stages of the Total Solar Eclipse we can expect to see.
Stage 1: First Contact
The edge of the Moon first touches the Sun’s disk, creating a small ‘bite’ out of the Sun’s shape.
Stage 2: Second Contact
The Moon’s silhouette becomes more pronounced against the Sun’s disk, covering a larger portion and darkening the sky further.
Stage 3: Totality
The Moon completely covers the Sun, plunging the area into darkness and revealing the Sun’s corona.
Stage 4: Third Contact
The Moon’s edge starts to move away from the Sun’s disk, ending the total solar eclipse phase. Diamond ring effect may briefly appear as the Sun’s corona reemerges
Stage 5: Fourth Contact
Moon’s silhouette completely separates from the Sun’s disk, marking the end of the eclipse.
How will it look like on your location? Find out on Stellarium Mobile!
As always, we wish everyone clear skies on this event! Feel free to share with us your observations on our social media accounts. We are looking forward to seeing your experiences!