On April 8th, 2024 a total solar eclipse was visible in certain paths throughout North America, Mexico, and Canada. It’s an important event for astrologists because it happens once every 18 months and it allows scientists to discover more about the Sun and the space environment to this day. During the eclipse, NASA Scientists view the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere, the corona seen using a coronagraph in a telescope. The coronagraph is a tool used to block direct light from the Sun and stars so it can reveal other objects that the glare from the beams of the Sun hides. 

     This specific eclipse is significant this year because millions across North America will have the opportunity to see it. Especially because at this time it’ll be visible in more populated areas and is reported to reach 31.6 million people along the path with an additional 150 million people within 200 miles of the path according to NBC News. The Path goes all the way from Dallas, Texas to Caribou, Maine.

     Glen Rock High School Science teacher, Mr.Valentino, broke down the timeline of the occurrence of the eclipse.  “And starting around two o’clock, you know, there was like a buzz in the air. And then at 2:10 pm, you saw a little bit of a black bump on the sun. And then that gradually increased at about 2:45 pm.” He also mentioned the peak of the eclipse stating “But there was a chunk missing of the Sun, and then the maximum coverage was at 3:26 pm.”

     It was extremely important to keep the eclipse glasses on in areas that had a partial eclipse because it can affect your eyesight. However, in areas where it was a total eclipse you could take your glasses off when the Moon was fully covering the Sun. According to the Bergen Record, the next time an eclipse like this will be visible in New Jersey will be in 2079 so it’s an extremely long time till we see an eclipse like this one.