In the United States of America (USA), preparations are in top gear in various parts for the total solar eclipse forecasted to occur on April 8.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the total solar eclipse will cross North America and pass over parts of Mexico, the central and eastern United States, and southeastern Canada.
The path of totality will first enter the United States in Texas, then pass through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Cleveland and much of northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania will experience totality during the mid-afternoon. Cleveland will experience totality between 3:13 and 3:17 PM EDT.
The last total solar eclipse visible from the United States happened in 2017.
Read Also: GUEST POST: Climate adaptation becomes less effective as the world warms
The April 8 total solar eclipse in the U.S will be the last time a total solar eclipse passes over a large part of the U.S. until 2044.
What is the total solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. Sometimes, the Moon only blocks part of the Sun’s light which is called a partial solar eclipse.
Other times, the Moon blocks all of the Sun’s light which is called a total solar eclipse. As the Moon blocks the Sun’s light, it casts a shadow on part of the Earth.
The Moon’s shadow creates a trail as Earth rotates, and this trail is called the path of totality. Places in the path of totality will experience total darkness during an eclipse since the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s light for a few minutes resembling nighttime.
Has Nigeria experienced a total solar eclipse?
The last total solar eclipse was experienced in Nigeria on March 29, 2006. It occurred in eight states which include Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger. Other parts of the country experienced partial darkness.
The maximum eclipse duration lasted for more than three mins.
The next total solar in Nigeria will occur on the 20th of March 2034. The solar eclipse totality would be visible in Benin, Gombe, Lagos, Lokoja and Markurdi.
How often do total solar eclipses happen?
Solar eclipses, of one kind or another, happen between two and five times a year. Total eclipses happen about once every 18 months.
According to the Natural History Museum, London, a total solar eclipse is viewable from any one place about once every 400 years. For example, the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States happened in 2017 and followed a track from Oregon towards South Carolina.
This year, the solar eclipse’s path will start in Texas and move northeast towards Maine. The next total solar eclipse will happen in 2026. It will be visible from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
The total solar eclipse on April 8 is causing such a stir because the rare event. The eclipse is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.
