April 2024 Solar Eclipse: This year’s total solar eclipse is home to nearly 32 million Americans
Ingram, USA:
Solar eclipse fever is sweeping across North America on Monday, with a stunning celestial event promising a rare blend of business, science and celebration.
The Moon’s shadow will land on Mexico’s Pacific coast at 2:07 PM ET (1807 GMT) before speeding northeast through 15 U.S. states and reaching Canada in less than an hour and a half After leaving the mainland over Newfoundland.
Festivals, viewing parties, and even group weddings are planned along the eclipse’s “total path,” when the moon will completely block the sun’s light for several minutes — which could be the case in the southern and central United States if rain clouds don’t spoil the fun. Case.
“Solar eclipses have special power,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said recently. “They create a sense of awe at the beauty of our universe.”
This year’s total eclipse path is 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide and is home to nearly 32 million Americans, with another 150 million people living within 200 miles of the belt. Those further away can still enjoy the partial eclipse, or watch the webcast provided by NASA.
The next total solar eclipse, visible from most of North America, won’t occur until 2044.
Festivals, flights, romance
Businesses have capitalized on the excitement of the special event, and hotels and short-term rentals in prime viewing spots have been booked for months.
Eclipse watchers from around the world gathered at Stonehenge II Park in Ingram, Texas, a replica of Britain’s prehistoric structure.
“This is our third solar eclipse,” Jim Saltigerald, 62, who was watching the eclipse with his wife and two children, told AFP. “We’re all praying that we can get some good rest in the clouds and see it.”
In Cleveland, where local officials expect about 200,000 visitors, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plans to host a four-day live music “Festival in the Sun.”
In Russellville, Arkansas, 300 couples will exchange vows in a “Total Eclipse of the Heart” mass wedding where “the thin halo around the moon is like a giant wedding ring in the sky!” the event’s website declares.
Many schools along the route will be closed or letting students out early.
Several airlines have already advertised flights planned to pass under the total solar eclipse, and Delta Air Lines has even planned two special trips along the path of the total solar eclipse.
Texas-based research firm Perryman Group estimates the direct and indirect economic impact of this year’s eclipse could reach $6 billion.
Scientific windfall
Then there’s science. NASA plans to launch three sounding rockets before, during and after the eclipse to measure changes caused by sudden dimming of the ionosphere, the upper layer of the atmosphere important for long-distance radio communications.
The eclipse also provides an excellent opportunity to study the Sun’s corona, the outer layer of a star’s atmosphere that is usually hidden by the bright light of the surface.
Researchers are particularly excited that the Sun is nearing the peak of its 11-year cycle.
During past solar eclipses, people noticed shocking animal behavior: Giraffes ran, while roosters and crickets began crowing and chirping.
NASA invites the public to contribute to research by recording natural sounds and submitting multisensory observations through its citizen science project, Eclipse Soundscapes.
Research has found that in humans, solar eclipses trigger feelings of awe and “prosocial” tendencies towards others.
Safety first
Safety is paramount and authorities stress that people must use certified eclipse glasses to prevent retinal damage.
Hospital visits for blurred vision, changes in color vision and blind spots have increased following past solar eclipses, and the prospects for recovery are far from certain.
Only those within the path of totality can safely remove their goggles and enjoy some precious moments admiring the solar corona peeking out from behind the moon’s silhouette.
But health professionals say they must determine when an outbreak begins and ends and wear glasses promptly.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
