For thousands of years, humanity has been captivated by the complete covering of our sun by the moon. It is a moment when the sky darkens and a sense of quietness falls upon us.

It is captivating not only for those fortunate enough to be in the path of complete darkness, but also for those on the outskirts of the moon’s shadow who can catch a partial view.

The upcoming event of a total solar eclipse across North America will be a spectacular show that will captivate millions of people, also known as the “cosmic curtain”.

On April 8, the moon will align perfectly between the Earth and the sun, causing the day to turn into night as the moon blocks out the sunlight. This phenomenon, known as an eclipse, will first be visible in the Pacific, then move through Mexico and Texas, and continue on a northeastern trajectory through 15 states before eventually passing over Canada and the North Atlantic.

The duration of the totality will be 4 minutes and 28 seconds, which should provide ample time to fully appreciate the awe-inspiring experience, assuming the weather cooperates.

According to Michael Zeiler, the creator of eclipse maps, the experience of witnessing a total solar eclipse is breathtaking due to the fact that we are normally unable to see the sun’s corona, the most magnificent celestial body, except for during the brief period of totality.

Even researchers such as Kelly Korreck from NASA are amazed.

She stated that there may have been tears of happiness during the initial occasion. Actually going through it was an incredibly impactful and emotional experience.

Although total solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, they are typically located in distant areas such as the Arctic or Antarctica, the southernmost point of South America, or the Pacific.

The last time totality crisscrossed the U.S. was in 2017, with totality lasting 2 1/2 minutes. After April, it won’t happen again until 2045, but get set for six full minutes of totality.

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Patrick Sison, an AP photo editor based in New York, handpicked the selection.

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The Health and Science Department of the Associated Press receives assistance from the Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The AP is solely accountable for all of its content.

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Source: wral.com