Witnessing a Spectacular Alignment

• On Monday, April 8, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, a phenomenon not seen in the United States for seven years and not expected to occur again for another two decades.
• Millions of people will have the opportunity to witness the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, either partially or fully, depending on their location.

Understanding Solar Eclipses

• A solar eclipse occurs when a celestial object like the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the view of the sun.
• During a total solar eclipse, the moon appears the same size as the sun, completely obscuring the sun’s disk and leading to a period of darkness known as “totality.”
• Totality offers a unique experience, allowing observers to see the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona.

Path of Totality and Viewing Locations

• The total solar eclipse will create a 115-mile-wide path of totality across parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
• Thirteen states in the U.S. will witness the eclipse, with major cities like Dallas, Little Rock, Paducah, Cleveland, and others falling along the path.
• The eclipse will begin on Mexico’s Pacific coast and travel northeast across the United States, ending in Canada’s maritime provinces.

Timing of the Eclipse

• The eclipse will start on Mexico’s Pacific coast around 11:07 a.m. PDT and enter the United States at approximately 1:27 p.m. CDT in Texas.
• It will continue its path, reaching the U.S. East Coast around 3:35 p.m. EDT in Maine before entering Canada.

Duration and Safety Measures