Produced by: Tarun Mishra
On Monday, April 8, the 2024 total solar eclipse will sweep across North America, captivating skywatchers with its celestial spectacle.
The eclipse will be visible across North and Central America, with a narrow path of totality spanning approximately 115 miles and passing through 15 U.S. States, Mexico, and Canada.
The total solar eclipse unfolds in five distinct stages, from first contact to fourth contact, each marking different phases of the celestial event. Let's take a look at these 5 stages of the eclipse.
Credit: NASA/Nat Gopalswamy
During the initial phase of the eclipse, the moon will gradually move in front of the sun, initiating a partial solar eclipse. This phase will cause the sun to appear as if a portion has been obscured by the moon's darkened disk. As the total eclipse nears, this darkened area will expand. Some observers may witness rapid, moving shadow bands along with Bailey's beads—light passing through lunar valleys—at the moon's edges. This partial eclipse will first be visible near Pu‘uali‘i, Hawaii, at 6:27 a.m. local time on April 8.
The first contact phase of the eclipse will endure for approximately 70 to 80 minutes, ending with the emergence of a radiant spot known as the "diamond ring" on the moon's edge, signifying the onset of the second contact phase and the impending totality. On April 8, the total solar eclipse will commence in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, at 9:51 a.m. local time (12:51 p.m. EDT, 16:51 GMT).
Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
During stage 3 of the total solar eclipse, known as totality, the moon completely covers the solar disk. This phase reveals the sun's corona and chromosphere, usually obscured by the sun's brightness, and allows for the visibility of stars and planets not typically seen during the day. On April 8, totality will begin in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, at 11:07 a.m. local time, and in the U.S. near Florentino Ramos Colonia, Texas, at 1:27 p.m. local time. Totality durations vary by location: 40 minutes and 43 seconds in Mexico, 67 minutes and 58 seconds in the U.S., and 34 minutes and 4 seconds in Canada.
During the fourth stage of the total solar eclipse, known as third contact, the moon begins to move away from the sun's disk, marking the end of totality and the beginning of the second partial eclipse phase. As brightening occurs on the opposite side of the moon, phenomena such as Baily's Beads and shadow bands may reappear, resembling those observed during the second contact stage. The total solar eclipse concludes on the Atlantic coast at 5:16 p.m. local time (3:46 p.m. EDT, 1946 GMT).
Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
In the fifth and final stage of the total solar eclipse, known as fourth contact, the moon continues to move away from the sun's disk, resulting in the end of the partial eclipse phase. As the moon is no longer partially eclipsing the sun, the total solar eclipse concludes. On April 8, along the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, the partial eclipse phase concludes at 6:18 p.m. local time (4:48 p.m. EDT, 2048 GMT).
The duration of totality varies depending on the viewing location, with skywatchers in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada experiencing different lengths of the eclipse.
To safely observe the eclipse, viewers must use specialized eclipse glasses or solar filters to protect their eyes from harmful solar radiation.