Total Solar Eclipse 2024: All You Need To Know About The Celestial Event That Occurred On 8 April 2024
The world witnessed this year’s first solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. Most people across the globe, specifically in North America, saw it. According to news reports, it started at 9:13 PM on April 8, Monday, and ended on April 9 at 2:22 AM IST.
At 10:09 PM IST, the Moon’s umbra, i.e., the darkest part of its shadow, touched down almost 998 kilometers south of the Republic of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean. However, for Indians, it was not as pleasing since they weren’t able to watch the eclipse.
The reason behind this is its geographical location as well as the Moon’s orbital path relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
A solar eclipse only happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, thus blocking the Sun’s light or a portion of it. However, it should be noted that the Moon should be at the perfect distance from the Earth to block out the entire surface of the Sun.
Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Dominates the Internet
People from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.A. experienced the solar eclipse in full swing. NASA also shared the live stream on their official YouTube channel. For the first time in nearly a century, the northern and western parts of New York witnessed the solar eclipse.
Even Mazatlán, a Mexican beachside resort town, became the major viewing spot in North America. This year, the total solar eclipse became a historic event because it won’t be visible in the world until August 2026.
Also, an annular eclipse occurs when the Moon can’t entirely block the Sun. This event will not appear in this part of the world until 2046.
