The 2024 Solar Eclipse Will be the Most Watched in History. Find Out Where in the World it Will be Visible
The first total solar eclipse of 2024 is coming and according to researchers it will be the most observed in history! Find out who will be lucky enough to see it.
On October 14, 2023, much of Brazil had the opportunity to witness the Annular Solar Eclipse, when the shadow of the Moon projected on the surface of the Earth. The state of Rio Grande do Norte was the most privileged in terms of visibility.
In this year of 2024 we will have another eclipse, this time one of the total solar type, in which the Moon will cross its path with the Sun and totally block its vision. But according to NASA, this event will be different from the last total solar eclipses. What makes this year's solar eclipse so special?
The first total solar eclipse of 2024
The total solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024, and will begin in the South Pacific Ocean, crossing North America, passing through Mexico, the United States and Canada. In other words, Brazil is not present in this trajectory. If weather conditions permit, the first place in continental North America that will experience the entirety is the Pacific coast of Mexico, around 11 a.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time).
Researchers claim that its outermost layer, called the solar corona, will be more visible than in the last total solar eclipse in 2017. This is related to the higher solar activity currently verified. In addition, this year's eclipse will be visible for about 2 minutes longer than that of 2017.
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will be dark as if it were dawn or dusk.
According to Polly White, founder of the Great American Eclipse, since the 2017 event and the annular solar eclipse of 2023, more people have become aware of the April event this year. Besides, the path of the totality is also longer, which makes the eclipse visible to more people than the previous one. After the total eclipse of April 2024, observers will only be able to see another one in 2044, which makes this one even more attractive!
Millions of viewers will witness the eclipse
About 31 million people in the United States will be able to witness this event on the 322 km of the totality's route, which is more than double the number of people who were able to see the last event, seen by about 20 million people.
And not only scientists and eclipse hunters are counting the days for this long-awaited astronomical event. Although more people can watch the total eclipse easily and without having to leave their cities, it is believed that there will be a peak of trips towards the show. The Great American Eclipse website estimates that 1 in 4 American citizens must travel at the time of the eclipse, to stay within the path of the totality.
The tourism industry will do well, because travel agents are already helping travelers find a place to stay to get the best view of the event. There will even be a 5-day music festival in the week of the eclipse, called "Eclipse Festival" which will feature space experiences and lectures led by professionals from NASA, Blue Origin and SpaceX in the state of Texas.
News reference
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Available at: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/ .