On April 8, a total solar eclipse will pass over North America. Solar eclipses are classified as annular, partial, or complete.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes closer to the sun and completely covers its disk, whereas an annular solar eclipse occurs when the sun appears as a ring of fire and the moon only obscures a section of the solar disk.
While NASA has released an interactive map of the total solar eclipse, location will not be the only factor determining the look of the eclipse on April 8, which will progress through five stages.
Additional read: How to watch the total solar eclipse online?
Total solar eclipse 2024: Five stages and their duration
Stage 1
During the first stage, a partial solar eclipse will occur when the moon crosses in front of the sun, giving the appearance that a piece has been removed from its luminous face due to the moon’s darker lunar disk.
During the initial phase of the total solar eclipse, observers may notice long, dark, rapidly moving bands on the ground or the sides of buildings known as “shadow bands”.
Bailey’s beads, caused by light traveling through the moon’s horizon’s valleys, can also be seen near the moon’s borders. The partial eclipse will first emerge at 6:27 a.m. on Hawaii’s Pu’uali’i.
Stage 2
The initial contact will last approximately 80 minutes, and the second stage will begin after a “diamond ring” is spotted at the moon’s edge.
At 9:51 a.m. local time, the total solar eclipse will be seen in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Stage 3
During stage 3, the moon will completely enclose the solar disk, and the corona can be seen as white streamers along the moon’s edge.
Stars and planets that are normally invisible from North America during the day may become visible in the darkened sky as a result of totality.
Florentino Ramos Colonia in Texas will be the first location in the United States to see totality at 1:27 p.m. local time. In the United States, the totality will endure 67 minutes and 58 seconds.
Stage 4
During the fourth stage of the total solar eclipse, known as the third contact, the moon will begin to move away from the sun’s disk, marking the end of totality and the beginning of the second partial eclipse phase.
This stage will provide another opportunity for skywatchers to look for Baily’s Beads at the moon’s edge, as well as shadow bands on nearby buildings. The total solar eclipse will end at approximately 5:16 p.m. local time on the Atlantic coast.
Stage 5
The total solar eclipse will end when the moon moves away from the sun’s disk and no longer obscures the sun.
The next total solar eclipse that American skywatchers will be able to see will occur on March 30, 2033.
