Millions of people across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada were excited to see a total eclipse of the sun on Monday, even though there were predictions of cloudy weather. The best viewing conditions were expected in places like Vermont, Maine, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.
This eclipse was anticipated to be the biggest in North America, with over four minutes of darkness in some areas, like Texas. Nearly everyone in North America would see at least a partial eclipse, depending on the weather.
People were uncertain about the weather, but many were still eager to share the experience with others. The eclipse happens when the moon moves in front of the sun, blocking it completely. During the eclipse, it would get dark, and only the sun’s outer atmosphere would be visible.
The eclipse would last for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, longer than the one seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth this time. After this eclipse, it would be 21 years before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse like this one.
The eclipse’s path would cross the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and 12 other U.S. states before reaching Canada and Newfoundland. The eclipse would cover a distance of over 4,000 miles in just 1 hour and 40 minutes.
People needed special glasses to look at the sun during the eclipse to protect their eyes. The eclipse’s path included big cities like Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York, and Montreal. Many people, including astronomers, scientists, and curious individuals, were excited to see the eclipse.
Experts from NASA and universities were ready to conduct experiments and research during the eclipse. Even astronauts on the International Space Station were planning to observe the eclipse from space.