Happy solar eclipse day to all who may get to see it.
Today this astrological phenomenon will span Mexico to the very eastern tip of Canada, with hundreds of events planned to catch a glimpse of this rare event.
But what is it, you ask? A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the Earth.
The phenomenon is a cosmic event, requiring the Sun, the Moon and the Earth to be in perfect alignment for the Moon to cast a shadow on our planet.
How rare is this? A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months or so. The continental US was also lucky enough to see one in 2017, but its next significant opportunity won’t come until 2045.
Let’s talk timings: All in all, the phenomenon itself will last two hours. For those in the Eastern Time zone, the eclipse will enter continental North America shortly after 14:00 EDT (19:00 BST), and exit at 15:46.
The path of totality, where you can see 100% of the eclipse, starts at around 11:07 local time (14:04 ET) in Mazatlán, Mexico, on the Pacific coast.
It will then move northeast, over Texas, the southern parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois, before making its way to Ohio and along the US-Canada border. The path will end in the Canadian Atlantic province of Newfoundland.
We’ll be making sure everything you need to know is here on this page, and you’ll also be able to follow it all live in text and video, so keep those glasses handy and settle in for what promises to be a special day.
