According to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), astronomy fans will witness a total solar eclipse today (April 8).

A solar eclipse is a phenomenon that occurs when the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are in a straight line. At some points on Earth, the Moon will cover part or all of the Sun, causing a solar eclipse. When the Sun is completely covered, a total solar eclipse occurs.

Sunday 2024.jpg
Path of the total solar eclipses of 2017 and 2024. Photo: NASA

NASA said this total solar eclipse will move across North America, including countries such as Mexico, some US states and the Atlantic coast of Canada. The last total solar eclipse passed over North America was 7 years ago, in 2017.

The total solar eclipse will begin in Mazatlan, Mexico, at 10:50 a.m. local time (10:50 p.m. April 8, Vietnam time). It will then pass through several Mexican states before entering Texas (USA). The eclipse will then continue to move up the northeastern region of the United States and end at the eastern tip of Canada at 2:48 p.m. local time (early morning April 9, Vietnam time).

The April 8 total solar eclipse has a wide coverage, with a path spanning a distance of 173-196 km. The 2024 total solar eclipse passes through many cities and densely populated areas. However, astronomy enthusiasts in Vietnam cannot observe this phenomenon, even if it is only a partial eclipse.

Nhat Thuc 3.jpg
Staff and visitors at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory view the 2017 total solar eclipse. Photo: NASA

An estimated 31.6 million people live within the orbit of the total eclipse. If you extend the eclipse 200 miles (321 km) from the orbit, the number of people who can see the total eclipse could be as high as 150 million. Partial eclipses will be visible across Europe and all of North America.

During a solar eclipse, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun. Solar radiation can cause eye damage. Observing a solar eclipse must be done through special filters. For safety, observers can also view the eclipse indirectly.

During the April 8 eclipse, NASA funded several studies to assess the Sun’s influence on Earth, including two spacecraft designed to study the Sun’s corona.

Why is the total solar eclipse on April 8 so rare, making Americans "crazy"? Total solar eclipses have happened many times, but the eclipse that took place on April 8 in some countries in North America is considered a rare "once in a hundred years".