Spectators in several parts of the world can anticipate a multitude of awe-inspiring sights as a Total Solar Eclipse is set to make the daytime sun go dark on April 8. It will be the first Solar Eclipse of 2024, after the world witnessed the first Lunar Eclipse of 2024 on March 25.
The totality phase of this eclipse is expected to last twice as long as it did in 2017 because the moon is currently closer to the sun, according to NASA. During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the face of the sun for a brief period known as totality.
Stargazers observing the phenomena can catch insight into the appearance of the moon’s shadow projected on the Earth’s atmosphere, before, during and after mid-eclipse.
“Until you’ve seen (a total eclipse), it’s almost impossible to describe. When you see totality, you can see how it’s had such a huge impact on humans through thousands of years. It’s one of the most beautiful things most people will ever experience,” said Dr John Mulchaey, Carnegie Institution for Science’s deputy for science and the director and Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair of the Carnegie Observatories.
Will The April 8 Solar Eclipse Visible in India?
The first solar eclipse of 2024 will not be visible in India. However, the rare celestial event will only be visible in parts of North America. As per NASA, the Total Solar Eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
According to NASA, it will be the last Total Solar Eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. It will begin over the South Pacific Ocean.
Around 32 million people in the US who are located along the 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) path of totality for April’s event will have a chance to enjoy this full expression of the celestial spectacle.
The 2031 Solar Eclipse
Unfortunately, Indians will not be able to catch the rare celestial event on April 8. However, India will only witness a solar eclipse in 2031. The Annular Solar Eclipse will fall on May 21, 2031, and will be a “ring of fire” eclipse. It will be visible in several cities across the country.
The 2031 eclipse will be visible in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The cities that will witness the eclipse include Kochi, Alappuzha, Chalakudy, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Painavu, Gudalur (Theni), Theni, Madurai, Ilaiyangudi, Karaikudi, and Vedaranyam.
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