Millions across North America witnessed a spectacular total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th, 2024. The rare event, the first of its kind in the United States in seven years, cast a path of darkness across parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states, and four Canadian provinces.
The 115-mile-wide path of totality allowed skywatchers to witness the sun being completely blocked by the moon, creating an awe-inspiring display. Those outside the path observed a partial eclipse, where the moon covered a portion of the sun.
Scientists took advantage of the eclipse to conduct unique research. A team from the Southwest Research Institute used NASA’s high-altitude planes to capture high-resolution images of the event, focusing on studying dust and asteroids around the sun.
While millions enjoyed totality, others experienced the eclipse partially due to cloud cover. The Texas Eclipse Festival in Burnet was unfortunately cancelled due to severe weather forecasts.
Marking the special occasion, Google created a celebratory Doodle depicting the eclipse for users searching for related terms. NASA also hosted a live stream, allowing viewers worldwide to witness the eclipse unfold.
In a controversial move, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, attempted to use the eclipse for his campaign. He shared a video highlighting the event, which backfired on social media.The total solar eclipse served as a powerful reminder of the wonders of the universe and the importance of scientific exploration. While the next total eclipse won’t grace the contiguous U.S. until 2044, the memory of this celestial marvel will surely linger for years to come.
Philips Babatunde