Solar eclipse 2024: What is a total eclipse and where will people see one?
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Solar eclipse: What causes it and how can you watch safely?
Today parts of the world will be treated to a solar eclipse.
In the UK, it'll just be partial - it'll look like the Moon is taking a bite out of the Sun.
But in the US, Mexico and Canada, the sun will be completely blocked and they will experience a full solar eclipse.
But what are they, and who can you view it? We've got everything you need to know.
What is a solar eclipse?
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An eclipse happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun blocking its light.
It occurs once every one or two years, but each time it can only be seen in certain parts of the world.
There are three different types of eclipse.
A total eclipse is when the Moon completely blocks the Sun and everything goes dark for a few seconds.
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth
A partial eclipse is when the Moon only blocks a bit of the Sun.
And an annular eclipse happens when the Moon is fully in front of the Sun, but is far away from the Earth, so it can't fully cover the Sun and what looks like a ring of fire is left around it.
Where will be the best places to see the total solar eclipse?
The full solar eclipse will start in the Pacific Ocean.
According to Nasa, it will reach land at 11:07am PDT (7.07pm in the UK), around the Mexican Pacific coast.
After travelling through Mexico, it will enter the US at Texas, before passing through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
This is an example of an annular eclipse
It will then reach Canada in Southern Ontario and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton.
Over 31 million people will be treated to the spectacle.
Where can I see the 2024 solar eclipse in the UK?
The eclipse in the UK may look something like this
While the UK will not see a full eclipse of the Sun getting fully blocked by the Moon, a partial eclipse will be most visible and seen for longest in Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
Map by BBC Sky at Night magazine showing where the eclipse may be seen in the UK and for how long
You may be able to spot it if you live in and around these cities:
Belfast
Londonderry/Derry
Cardiff
Swansea
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Liverpool
Leeds
Manchester
The start of the partial eclipse will be from around 7.50pm (BST) and end around 8.50pm depending on where you are in the UK.
How can I watch the eclipse safely?
WATCH: Make a pinhole camera
It's important to never look directly at the Sun as it can permanently damage your eyes.
Sunglasses do not offer sufficient protection either, so if you want to view the eclipse, ask your parents or an adult you trust about special protective eclipse glasses - although at the moment these are quite expensive to buy online.
Another option to see the eclipse without looking directly at the Sun is creating a pin-hole projector.
To make one, poke a small hole into a piece of card. Hold the card up to the Sun so that light shines through the hole and on to a piece of paper behind the card.
You will be able to see the shape of the Sun projected on to the piece of paper and watch its shape change as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.