On April 8, the U.S. will be treated to a rare astronomical event as a total solar eclipse passes over the country. This phenomenon occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sun, casting a shadow on Earth and creating a surreal experience for those lucky enough to be in the path of totality.
This eclipse will be visible in 15 states, with areas such as the South Pacific Ocean, Mexico, and parts of the U.S. and Canada being able to witness the moon’s shadow passing in front of the sun. Those within the path of totality will have the opportunity to see the ethereal corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere, for approximately 4-and-a-half minutes.
For those outside this path, a partial eclipse will still be visible, with the extent of coverage varying based on location. NASA has created a tool for individuals to input their city or ZIP code to find out specific details for their area, such as start and end times of the eclipse and the percentage of sun coverage they can expect.
Some examples of the eclipse details include Huntsville starting at 12:42 p.m. with 90% coverage, Birmingham starting at 12:41 p.m. with 86% coverage, and Mobile starting at 12:34 p.m. with 79% coverage. This event is sure to captivate millions across the country and provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the beauty of the cosmos.
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