You may be thinking to yourself: what is a solar eclipse, and why does everyone keep talking about it? On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. 

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over Earth. Additionally, it will only take place during a new moon phase, which is when the moon aligns itself to eclipse the sun. 

The last solar eclipse visible in North America occurred in 2017. During this rare event, the moon completely covers the sun, known as totality. Only during these moments can observers witness the sun’s corona—the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere.

Solar eclipses can come in a few different ways. There’s the total eclipse, where the sun is completely covered, the partial eclipse, where only part of the sun is covered, and an annular eclipse, when the moon covers the center of the sun leaving the “ring of fire.”

If you want to see the eclipse, you have to be in the right place at the right time. To do this, you have to track its path of totality, the area where people on Earth can see the moon completely covering the sun.

As exciting as this all sounds, the most important thing is safety. Looking directly at the eclipse can cause immediate damage to the eyes, so following safety precautions is essential. Be sure to wear solar eclipse glasses. Regular sunglasses will not work!

This event brings much joy and excitement to many. It is extremely crucial to keep safety as your number one priority. Be sure to get your glasses and keep an eye out for when totality will reach your area so you don’t miss this beautiful sight!