The photo voltaic eclipse in Spain on April 8, 2024: questions and solutions concerning the astronomical phenomenon | Science | EUROtoday

Millions of North Americans will see right this moment, April 8, how the shadow of the Moon covers the Sun in a complete eclipse that can journey throughout North America from south to north and from east to west, crossing Mexico, the United States and Canada on its manner. This occasion happens when the Moon aligns simply to return between the Sun and the Earth, protecting the photo voltaic disk and inflicting darkness much like nighttime.

How does a complete photo voltaic eclipse occur?

Total photo voltaic eclipses usually are not as frequent as you would possibly assume. They solely happen, on common, yearly and a half. Additionally, solely a small strip of the Earth's floor experiences the totality of the eclipse; If it’s outdoors this vary, even simply barely, the eclipse can be partial. This signifies that the Sun won’t be utterly obscured and the occasion could also be much less spectacular and even go unnoticed. Only throughout the band of totality can the eclipse be seen in all its splendor.

Where can it’s seen?

The eclipse will start within the Pacific Ocean and cross the western/southwestern United States from Oregon to Texas.

It will then proceed via Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil.

The strip of totality of the eclipse the place the Moon will utterly cowl the Sun will enter Mexico in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. The umbra will proceed its course via the neighboring states of Durango and Coahuila. The phenomenon will darken the sky in each Nazas, Lerdo, Durango and Gómez Palacio (Durango); reminiscent of Torreón, Cuatro Ciénegas, Monclova, Ciudad Acuña and Piedras Negras (Coahuila).

In this hyperlink there may be extra details about find out how to comply with the eclipse in Mexico.

How to see the photo voltaic eclipse safely?

The finest option to see an eclipse is thru particular lenses or optical devices reminiscent of telescopes or binoculars with beforehand put in photo voltaic filters. Otherwise, trying straight on the Sun or doing so with out enough safety may cause short-term or everlasting eye harm. Regular sun shades, glass bottles, cellophane, x-rays, cameras, and telescopes or binoculars with out photo voltaic filters usually are not protected for trying straight on the Sun.

The solely time it’s protected to view a photo voltaic eclipse with out safety is throughout totality, that’s, when the Moon utterly blocks daylight and produces momentary darkness. Outside of the strip of totality that can cowl some cities in Sinaloa, Durango and Coahuila, in the remainder of the nation it will likely be mandatory to make use of particular lenses always to have a look at the astronomical phenomenon.

Can it’s seen in Spain?

The spectacular whole eclipse that crosses North America this afternoon will die in Galicia, the Canary Islands and northwest Portugal, however it will likely be like a really weak partial eclipse. Furthermore, the phenomenon will solely happen for a only a few minutes, since in these areas “the Sun will set shortly after the beginning of the eclipse”, in line with the National Astronomical Observatory of Spain. It can be an eclipse on the sting. In the westernmost Canary Islands, you possibly can ponder from 8:17 p.m. till you see “how the Moon only covers 2% of the Sun's fraction at the time of disappearing over the ocean,” at 8:27 p.m., explains the Institute. of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, from the place they do not forget that to see it it could be important to have a transparent view of the sundown, over the ocean; and the upper the higher, the higher.

In Galicia, in concept, through the eclipse a barely bigger chunk may very well be seen on the Sun, explains astrophysicist Borja Tosar, who provides that in observe it will likely be virtually unattainable. “The further west and further north of the coast the better, and looking for a place high above the sea, that leaves us with two options to try: Cape Fisterra and Cape Touriñán,” explains Tosar, who warns that there are only a few minutes to attempt it. , because it begins at 9:02 p.m. and sundown is at 9:09 p.m. The afternoon of clouds and clearings in that space makes it extra sophisticated. “With fog, it is almost impossible to see such a light and elusive eclipse right on the horizon. More than encouraging you to go see it, I wish luck to whoever wants to go out and hunt it,” concludes Tosar, stories Francisco Doménech.

What subsequent eclipses will there be?

The Iberian Peninsula will have the ability to get pleasure from whole photo voltaic eclipses on August 12, 2026 and August 2, 2027, in addition to an annular photo voltaic eclipse on January 26, 2028. Annular photo voltaic eclipses occur simply when the Moon coincides with the purpose farther from its orbit, which prevents it from protecting the Sun utterly.

Where are you able to comply with on-line?

The eclipse will be adopted on-line on the EL PAÍS web site, reside, at this hyperlink.

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