On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse is set to sweep across North America, providing a spectacular sight for millions of Americans. This rare event will be visible in virtually every part of the United States, with a narrow belt stretching from Texas to Maine experiencing the full eclipse.
NASA has developed an online tool to help individuals determine the visibility of the eclipse from their specific ZIP code locations. The tool provides a map showing the total coverage belt and how long totality will last for specific areas. For example, Cleveland will have a total eclipse lasting 3 minutes and 49 seconds on April 8, while Cincinnati will have a maximum coverage of 99.8% just outside the total eclipse belt.
The total eclipse will begin over the Pacific Ocean and pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In the US, the path of the total eclipse will pass over states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse.
Washington is expected to have a maximum coverage of 87.4% at 3:20 p.m. as the eclipse passes overhead. The eclipse will then enter Canada in Southern Ontario and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland before moving over the Atlantic Ocean.
This celestial event is a unique opportunity for skywatchers across North America to witness a total solar eclipse, with many areas experiencing a partial eclipse as well. Be sure to utilize NASA’s online tool to determine the visibility of this rare event in your area on April 8.
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