when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow that blocks out the light from the sun. The sun appeared to vanish behind the moon for minutes at a time as the eclipse traveled alongstarting on Mexico's Pacific coast and moving northeast through more than a dozen states, from Texas to Maine, and into eastern Canada. In this composite of seven photographs, the moon passes by the sun during a total solar eclipse in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 8, 2024.
There will also be two solar eclipses in 2026, including a total solar eclipse. On Feb. 17 of that year, there will be an annular solar eclipse visible in parts of Antarctica, according to NASA. A partial eclipse will be visible that day in parts of Antarctica, Africa, South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
Another common myth around the eclipse is the idea that the total solar eclipse produces harmful rays that can cause blindness, according to NASA. The space agency says that when the moon covers the sun during the eclipse, the corona emits electromagnetic radiation. That light is a million times fainter than the light of the sun itself and coronal light cannot cross 150 million kilometers of space, penetrate Earth's dense atmosphere and cause blindness.
But crowds were thin across the city, save for those that gathered in droves at the scenic state park, where some visitors said they had come as early as dawn to secure their spot and where New York Gov. Kathy Hochul joined hopeful skywatchers as the eclipse approached totality over the region.Viewers at a spot along the path of totality will see a total eclipse lasting up to about 4 and a half minutes, with the length of time the sun is at least partially obscured lasting about 40 minutes.
Bride and groom Randy and Michelle Weller kiss before a planned mass wedding of over 200 couples at the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival on April 8, 2024 in Russellville, Arkansas. Rodney Williams, a hot air balloonist from Branson, Missouri, is used to turning the skies into attractions. He organized the event as part of the city's"Total Eclipse of the Heart" festival."Sometimes planning a wedding can be stressful," Williams said.