The alignment of the Moon, Sun and Earth is approaching and with this the light will stop reaching the planet for a few moments. This astronomical phenomenon is known as a total solar eclipse.
The eclipse can be seen on April 8 in Canada and the United States. In addition, some states of the Mexican Republic will also see how the sky will darken for a few minutes.
What is eclipse simulator?
If you want to see the eclipse, but you will not be in the areas where it can be seen in Mexico, Canada or the United States, we have good news for you, since You can see it with the help of a simulator.
This is the Eclipse Simulator portal, which shares its preview. You will be able to see each stage and the effects, details.
Additionally, viewing the annular solar eclipse or 'ring of fire', which occurred in 2023, and others that have already passed by Earth, is available.
How to use the simulator to see the 2024 total solar eclipse?
When you enter the website, You can click on the 'Watch the 2024 total eclipse' button. A map will appear, where you can navigate as you want: your current location and other cities.
On the map you can see a red line, which indicates the route of the eclipse and the regions in which information about it will be provided.
The red line is present in North and Central America, Greenland and Iceland, the Caribbean, and a small part of northern South America. There is another road in blue in Hawaii.
“If you zoom in on the map, you'll be able to click anywhere within the valid region and see a little globe pop up. This globe will tell you if the place you clicked will see any of the eclipse.”the website explains.
If so, then you will immediately see if that place is on the path or not. Once in the city you selected, it opens a new tab and instructions appear for you to navigate the screen and appreciate the eclipse:
- There is the main control to move forward or backward in time to study the eclipse. Swipe in the middle to get closer to the peak of this one.
- Once you are close to the point in time you want to study, use this slider to make timing adjustments down to the partial second level.
- Press the white arrow to start the clock and let the simulator show you the eclipse. Use this slider to speed up or slow down the simulation.
- Use the mouse to zoom all the way in and see the entire sky, or zoom all the way out.
Additionally, in all cases, you will also have the option to view eclipse data for the exact location you have selected.
What will be the phases and duration of the 2024 solar eclipse?
According to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the phase partial will begin at 9:51:23 hours. The total, that is, the moment in which The sky will darken, it will be from 11:07:25 to 11:11:45 hours.
It is estimated that the total solar eclipse lasts exactly 4 minutes and 20 seconds. After the phenomenon will be partial again, and will end at 12:32:09 hours.
Where will the total solar eclipse be seen?
For the fortune of the people of Sinaloa, The maximum point of the total solar eclipse will be in Mazatlán, where for 4 minutes and 20 seconds you can fully contemplate the conjunction of the stars.
But don't be discouraged, other cities where you can see different aspects of the eclipse are: Durango; Torreón, Monclova, Sabinas and Piedras Negras, in Coahuila.
United States cities Where the eclipse will also be seen are San Antonio and Dallas, in Texas, where some schools will carry out scientific activities around this astronomical phenomenon.
It will also be seen in Hot Springs and Little Rock in Arkansas. Evansville, Indiana; central Delaware; Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio.
Meadville, Pennsylvania and Rochester, New York are added. In Canada: Montreal, Newfoundland Island and Buffalo, Canada.
