A celestial event of rare beauty is soon set to unfold - a total solar eclipse. While this phenomenon will be visible only in North America, in certain parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada, viewers around the world can still experience the otherworldly spectacle through live online streaming.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking out the sun's light and casting a majestic shadow on our planet. Unlike partial solar eclipses, where only a portion of the sun is obscured, total eclipses offer a complete immersion in darkness.
Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse or at any time, for that matter, can cause retinal and ocular damage, leading to irreversible blindness or partial vision loss.
During the brief phase of totality, it's safe to observe the sun with the naked eye. However, before and after totality, special certified eclipse glasses or solar filters for cameras, binoculars, and telescopes are indispensable to prevent eye damage and to witness the eclipse safely as the sun traverses the moons path.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “ISO-certified eclipse glasses will shield your eyes from serious and possibly permanent damage, which can occur by looking at the eclipse with regular sunglasses or without any eye protection.”
New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul has made specialised eclipse glasses available in dozens of locations around the State, including a limited quantity of I LOVE NY glasses at New York State Welcome Centres and select service areas.
In the City and the New York Metro Area, you can pick up a free pair at:
Approved by the New York State Department of Health, the certified glasses will be limited to two pairs per person while supplies last, with a limited quantity distributed daily.
The eclipse will commence at approximately 2:38 a.m. AEST but won't be visible from mainland North America until around 4:07 a.m. It will then journey across Mexico, the United States, and Canada for over an hour and a half, concluding at about 5:46 a.m.
The path of totality spans from Mexico's Pacific coast, through cities like Dallas and Cleveland, to Newfoundland in Canada's east. While the eclipse will only be fully visible from within this narrow path, partial eclipses will be observable across much of North America.
While the next total solar eclipse is slated for 2026, visible from Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, enthusiasts across the globe can anticipate upcoming celestial events and prepare to witness these awe-inspiring phenomena firsthand or through virtual platforms. For those who aren’t in North America and who want to watch the eclipse in the comfort of their own homes, NASA will be livestreaming it from 3am 9 April (AEST) from this link, while Associated Press will begin broadcasting at midnight.
Renowned solar physicist and eclipse chaser, Ryan Milligan, describes the eclipse as a primal and visceral experience to see the Sun disappear in the middle of the day.
"It's not something your brain is accustomed to processing," Dr Milligan told ABC News Mornings.
"It's that kind of adrenaline rush, to have this fleeting experience, when the temperature drops, perhaps a few stars come out, the animals go to sleep, you're looking around trying to soak in this experience that only lasts for a couple of minutes."
"The part of the Sun's atmosphere, the corona you see during totality, can look very different, depending on what phase of the solar cycle we're in," Dr Milligan says, as he explains that that all eclipses are not born equal. "That can dictate how the corona is structured, the clouds of hydrogen gas and so on.
"Whether it's a sunrise eclipse, sunset, midday eclipse, it can have a dramatic effect, and where you are can change the experience of totality."
In anticipation of over a million tourists flocking to Niagara Falls to witness the eclipse, the region has declared a state of emergency. With the influx of visitors expected to surpass the annual count, precautionary measures are being implemented to manage traffic and ensure public safety.
The total solar eclipse on April 8 will be the first to touch the province since 1979, and Niagara Falls was declared by National Geographic to be one of the best places to see it.
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