What is a Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse is the alignment of The Sun, The Moon, and The Earth (in that order). The Earth passes in front of The Moon's shadow, blocking it from direct rays of sunlight. In an Annular Solar Eclipse, the moon is 'smaller' than the sun (from Earth), causing an affect known as the 'Ring of Fire'. In a Total Solar Eclipse, the moon is 'bigger' than the sun, causing the only light reaching our planet being the light reflected all the way around the moon. to the planet's surface, and into our eyes. The Great American Eclipse is a Total Solar Eclipse.

Why is this Eclipse special?

The Great American Eclipse takes place during a New Moon, this is special in its own wright as we are rarely given the opportunity to actually 𝘴𝘦𝘦 one with our naked eyes. Furthermore, this New Moon is also a 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧. A Supermoon is a nickname for when either a Full Moon or New Moon is closest to the Earth, making it occur 14% Bigger and 30% Brighter (the brightness effect will be lost as it is not a Full Moon).

When is it?

The Eclipse will occur on the 8th of April, 2024.

Event	ADT	EDT	CDT	MDT	PDT
Partial Eclipse Forms over the Atlantic	12:42	11:42	10:42	09:42	08:42
Total Eclipse Forms over the Atlantic	13:38	12:38	11:38	10:38	09:38
Maximum Eclipse Occurs	15:17	14:17	13:17	12:17	11:17
Total Eclipse dissipates over the Pacific	16:55	15:55	14:55	13:55	12:55
Partial Eclipse dissipates over the Pacific	17:52	16:52	15:52	14:52	13:52

Where is it?

The eclipse will begin in the Atlantic Ocean, and end in the Pacific Ocean, with the totality passing over Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The partial eclipse will also pass through Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Iceland, Greenland (DM), French Polynesia (FR), Puerto Rico (US), Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cocos Islands (EC), Dominica, Antigua and Barbuada, St Kitts and Nevis, Carribian Netherlands (NL), British Virgin Islands (UK), US Virgin Islands (US), Anguilla (UK), French Polynesia (FR), Guadalupe (FR), and the Azores (PT)

For a detailed, interactive map; click here.

How to view it (safely):

Until the moment of total eclipse (when the sun completely hidden behind the moon), you should never look directly at the eclipse. Eclipse glasses are a cheap and easy method to view it, allowing you to look directly at the sun and see exactly how close the moon is, you can pick them up online for usually less than £5 (about $6). For DLSR cameras, you should equip a sunlight filter to protect the camera itself but for iPhones, this isn't necessary. The only time it is safe to point a telescope at the sun is during total eclipse, even then it is best to wear eclipse glasses when viewing. Ensure that your telescope is pointed away from the sun aside from the during moment of totality, pointing a telescope at the sun is a fire hazard. Binoculars are only safe to use for viewing eclipses during totality.