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Total solar eclipse 2024: Where, when, and how to watch

Total solar eclipse 2024: Where, when, and how to watch

Millions of people across North America will get the chance to experience a very special natural event on Monday when a total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada. The total eclipse – which occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sun – will darken skies for a few minutes “as if it were dawn or dusk”, the US’s NASA space agency explains. It will be visible from a 185km-wide (115 mile-wide) band that stretches from the western coast of Mexico, through the US, and up to Canada’s easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador – what’s known as the “path of totality”. “Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun,” NASA says on its website. The path of totality is really “where it’s at” on Monday, said Anthony Aveni, professor emeritus at Colgate University in New York and author of the book, In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery of Solar Eclipses. “It’s that precious three minutes or so … of totality when you see a whole range of phenomena that you just don’t see in everyday life,” he told Al Jazeera. “It takes your breath away and you stop what you’re doing and gawk at nature.” So how often do total solar eclipses occur? How long does it typically last? Where and how can you watch safely? Here’s everything you need to know. A man uses protective glasses to observe the solar eclipse over South America, in Bariloche, Argentina, on December 14, 2020 [File: Carlos Barria/Reuters] Where will the total eclipse be visible from, and at what time? Monday’s total eclipse will be visible from parts of Mexico, the US and Canada. It will enter continental North America in Mazatlan, in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, at 11:07am local time (18:07 GMT). It will exit the continent on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16pm local time (19:46 GMT). In the US, the eclipse will enter the state of Texas at 1:27pm local time (18:27 GMT) and exit in Maine at 3:35pm local time (19:35 GMT). It will last only a few minutes, and the exact time it will be visible depends on where you are within the path of totality. For example, in Erie, Pennsylvania, totality starts at 3:16pm local time (19:16 GMT) and ends at 3:20pm (19:20 GMT). It will reach Buffalo, New York, a few minutes later: there, totality starts at 3:18pm local time (19:18 GMT) and ends at 3:22pm (19:22 GMT). A partial eclipse also will be visible for about two hours on Monday, before and after totality. What happens during a total solar eclipse? While the Earth and moon both orbit the sun, the moon also circles the Earth each month. During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the sun’s light on one side, and casting a shadow on a small area of Earth on its other side. The dark inner part – the “umbra” – of this shadow creates a narrow track or “path” as the moon orbits the Earth. Areas on this path, and especially on its centreline, which fall directly under the shadow, are the ones from where the total eclipse will be visible. This track is about 160km (100 miles) wide and 16,000km (10,000 miles) long. “If it was a lunar eclipse, it would last for a few hours and people around the world could see it. But the difference is that total eclipses only happen over a specific path of that new moon,” said Khady Adama Ndao, a NASA eclipse ambassador. This eclipse only occurs during a new moon. And the moon’s position in its orbit, relative to the sun and Earth, as well as the angles of all three at a specific time, are what create a total eclipse. While the moon will be close enough to Earth so as to look as though it entirely covers the sun during an eclipse, in reality the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun. It’s the increased distance between the moon and the sun at the time of a total eclipse that makes the moon look like it is big enough to cover the sun. Meanwhile, people who are close to the path of totality, but not directly in it, may see what’s known as a partial eclipse on Monday. That’s when only a part of the sun is obscured by the moon. Areas from which a partial eclipse will be visible fall under faint parts of the moon’s wider shadow, called the “penumbra”. What does a total eclipse look like? As the moon moves past the sun during an eclipse, it will slowly obscure the sun – creating a dark sky – before reaching the moment of “totality”. That’s when almost the entirety of the sun will be covered, leaving only a faint circle of the sun’s light or the corona. After a few minutes, people in the path of totality will see a partial eclipse again as the moon moves away. The sun will become fully visible again. What else happens during the moment of totality? There is a drop in temperature and animals also start to behave as if it’s nighttime. The chirping patterns of birds may change, while nocturnal animals such as bats and owls may start to wake up and look for prey. Stars and celestial objects hanging in the dark sky may also become more visible. If a person were to stand on the moon or a space station orbiting Earth, they would also be able to see a dark shadow passing over the Earth. The eclipse will go through several stages before and after totality [File: Ted S Warren/AP Photo] How long will the total solar eclipse last on April 8? A total solar eclipse can last between two

Mother of American abducted by Hamas: Cease-fire without releasing hostages ‘is a death sentence to them’

Mother of American abducted by Hamas: Cease-fire without releasing hostages ‘is a death sentence to them’

The mother of Omer Neutra, a 22-year-old American from Long Island, New York, who was abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, had a message for those who are pushing for Israel to end its military campaign. “Bringing the hostages back should be the top priority. It should be a world top priority. Everyone looking for de-escalation in the region should be opening the sentence saying, you know, ‘Release the hostages.’ Any sentence, any demand of cease-fire without release of hostages is a death sentence to them,” Orna Neutra, said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”  “As far as what’s going on in Israel, there’s a broad range, everyone feels that more needs to be done,” she continued. “Everyone is demanding more from the government. You know, people and different families have different perspectives on how to achieve that, and that’s what we’re seeing.”  Host Jake Tapper asked Neutra’s family if they were comfortable responding to criticism about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not prioritizing enough to secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas on the six-month anniversary of the attacks on southern Israel. ISRAEL WITHDRAWS ALL GROUND TROOPS FROM SOUTHERN GAZA, LEAVING JUST 1 IDF BRIGADE IN ENCLAVE “I can’t believe we’re sitting here six months later having to experience the terror every day,” said Omer’s father, Ronen Neutra. “Every day that we wake up we’re saying what are we doing to bring our son back home, and we feel that we’re failing. Day by day, and it’s [the] six-months mark. We can’t believe that.”  Neutra’s brother, Daniel, described him as a “strong, friendly, amazing guy. He’s a really funny guy. And so many people have reached out to me from his youth group, from school, so many different places, hundreds of people just reaching out to tell us how much he means to them, and he’s really a person who builds communities around him. And without him, these communities are lost. We don’t know what to do without him.”  The interview comes as a Hamas delegation led by the terror group’s chief deputy in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, is expected to go to Cairo on Sunday to begin talks on a potential cease-fire, Reuters reported. Sources told Reuters that CIA Director Bill Burns was expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday evening. An Israeli delegation and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are also expected to participate in the talks handled by Egyptian mediators, according to Egypt’s Al Qahera news. The six-month mark has been met with growing frustration in Israel, where anti-government protests have swelled and anger is mounting over what some see as government inaction to help free about 130 remaining hostages, about a quarter of whom Israel says are dead, according to the Associated Press.  Hamas-led militants took about 250 captives when they crossed from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s military announced Sunday it had withdrawn its forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, wrapping up a key phase in its ground offensive against Hamas and bringing its troop presence in the territory to one of the lowest levels since the ground operation began. EXTREMISTS RISE IN NEW PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT AS BIDEN THREATENS ISRAEL OVER GAZA WAR Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity under army policy, told the AP a “significant force” remained in Gaza and would preserve the army’s “freedom of action” to continue targeted operations across the territory, including Khan Younis, a Hamas stronghold that has been Israel’s main focus for several months. Still, the withdrawal was a significant milestone as Israel and Hamas marked six months of fighting. The Israeli officials said the 98th paratroopers division would recuperate and prepare for future operations. Israel previously claimed to have dismantled Hamas forces in Khan Younis, the hometown of the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar. Israel has vowed to conduct a ground offensive on the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah, considered Hamas’ last stronghold, and Netanyahu on Sunday told his Cabinet that victory means “elimination of Hamas in the entire Gaza Strip, including Rafah.” But Rafah shelters some 1.4 million people — more than half of Gaza’s population. The prospect of an offensive has raised global alarm, including from Israel’s top ally, the U.S., which has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Allowing people to return to nearby Khan Younis could relieve some pressure on Rafah. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told ABC the U.S. believes that the partial Israeli withdrawal “is really just about rest and refit for these troops that have been on the ground for four months and not necessarily, that we can tell, indicative of some coming new operation for these troops.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russia says Ukraine attack hits Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Russia says Ukraine attack hits Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Ukraine has struck the dome above a shutdown reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, the plant’s Russian-installed administration said. It was not immediately clear what weapon was used in Sunday’s attack against the nuclear plant, which was taken by Russian forces shortly after their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although the Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom said the site had come under a drone attack. Radiation levels were normal and there was no serious damage after the attack, according to the plant’s officials. But Rosatom later said that three people had been wounded, specifically in a drone strike near the site’s canteen. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has experts at the site, said it had been informed by the Russian-run plant that a drone had detonated at the site and the information was “consistent” with IAEA observations. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has warned both sides to refrain from actions that “jeopardise nuclear safety”. IAEA experts have been informed by ZNPP that a drone detonated on site today. Such detonation is consistent with IAEA observations. “I urge to refrain from actions that contradict the 5 IAEA principles and jeopardise nuclear safety,” Director General @rafaelmgrossi said. — IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) April 7, 2024 The nuclear plant, which is the largest in Europe, has six Soviet-designed VVER-1000 V-320 water-cooled and water-moderated reactors containing uranium-235. There is also spent nuclear fuel at the facility. Reactors number one, two, five and six are in cold shutdown, while reactor number three is shut down for repair and number four is in so-called “hot shutdown”, according to the plant’s administration. The plant remains close to the front lines, and both Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused the other of attacking the plant and so risking a possible nuclear disaster. Front-line fighting Earlier on Sunday, a woman was killed when shrapnel from a downed Ukrainian drone hit a car travelling in Russia’s Belgorod region, according to the local Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. In a statement on the Telegram messaging app, Gladkov said that four more people, including two children, had been wounded after air defences downed four Ukrainian drones on the approach to Belgorod city. The Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, has come under regular attack from Kyiv’s forces since 2022, with 25 people killed in a single missile strike on Belgorod city in December. Russia’s army on Sunday said that it had destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones over its border in Belgorod and in the Bryansk region. The army added that 12 of the 15 drones were destroyed over the Belgorod region. Ukraine has for months launched drone attacks on several border areas as it tries to push back Russia’s advancing forces. “Ukrainian drones destroy the occupiers. They protect the lives of our soldiers on the front lines. And they help Ukraine decrease Russiaʼs war potential,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday. “In the sky and at sea, our drones have demonstrated that Ukrainian strength can defeat Russian evil,” he added. Ukrainian drones destroy the occupiers. They protect the lives of our soldiers on the front lines. And they help Ukraine decrease Russiaʼs war potential. In the sky and at sea, our drones have demonstrated that Ukrainian strength can defeat Russian evil. I thank everyone who… pic.twitter.com/AFPAiLlyyW — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 6, 2024 However, Zelenskyy also highlighted that Russian attacks continue in front-line regions like Kharkiv and Zaporizhia. On Sunday, Kyiv said that a Russian strike on the town of Huliaipole in the southern Zaporizhia region killed three people. “Two men and a woman died under the rubble of their own private house, which was hit by a Russian shell,” the head of the region, Ivan Fedorov, said on social media. Officials added that a woman was also killed in the city of Kupiansk, in the northeastern Kharkiv region that has seen increased attacks in recent months. Meanwhile in the main city of Kharkiv, Kyiv said Russia launched another attack on Sunday, wounding five civilians, a day after a deadly attack there. On Saturday, two Russian strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killed eight civilians and injured at least 10 people, according to regional officials. “We must put an end to this terror,” Zelenskyy said. On Sunday, during a video meeting of the Kyiv-organised fundraising platform United24, Zelenskyy said that it was crucial for the US Congress to approve military aid to Ukraine, as the war continues to rage. “It is necessary to specifically tell Congress that if Congress does not help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war,” he said. “If Ukraine loses the war, other states will be attacked.” Adblock test (Why?)