how to observe this phenomenon only visible from North America?

Tens of millions of people, from Mexico to Canada, including the United States, will witness this rare celestial spectacle on Monday.

It will only last a few minutes, and even a few seconds in places. A total solar eclipse will be visible from part of North America on Monday, April 8 in the afternoon. To observe this unique celestial spectacle, you will have to be present in a large strip of land stretching from the Mexican Pacific coast to the island of Newfoundland, in Canada.

The lucky ones present on this trajectory will be able to contemplate a perfect alignment of the Sun, the Moon and the Earth. The Moon will completely obscure the Sun, even though the diameter of the star is 400 times greater than that of Earth’s natural satellite. On this trajectory, it will be like night in broad daylight and the temperature could drop a few degrees.

Unlike the last total eclipse that crossed America in August 2017, this year’s path — a diagonal from southwest to northeast — will allow more Americans to enjoy the spectacle. If weather conditions permit, “99% of people residing in the United States will be able to see the eclipse (…) All contiguous American states, as well as parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will experience at least one partial solar eclipse”says NASA.

Airbnb rentals taken by storm

This phenomenon has created a real tourist craze across the Atlantic. On a map shared on X, by AirDNA, a company that produces statistics on Airbnb seasonal rentals, the occupancy rate of accommodations rented on the platform has exploded. “Dallas is 95% booked, Cleveland is 97%, Buffalo and Niagara Falls are 98%,” underlines Jamie Lane, the company’s chief economist.

It must be said that this is a rare spectacle: no other total solar eclipse will occur in North America before 2044. If you are present in Mexico, the United States or Canada at the time of the eclipse , the best way to observe it is to use special glasses, which block 99.999% of light. Because a simple glance can cause loss of vision and “serious eye injuries”warns NASA.

In France, you will have to admire it from your sofa

France is not affected by this warning since the eclipse of April 8 will not be visible in France. Only a few observers from overseas territories will be able to witness this phenomenon. In Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, it will be 98% visible at 5:43 p.m. local time (9:43 p.m. in Paris), for more than three minutes, explains La 1ère. Visibility will be partial in Polynesia, where the Sun will be obscured by 60%, specifies the Paris Observatory. In the French Antilles, the eclipse will reach an even more partial level of visibility because “near the southern limit of the penumbra zone”.

In France, budding astronomers will not have their eyes glued to the sky. However, they will have the opportunity to attend the show with a live broadcast of the event from the IMAX room at the Cité de l’espace in Toulouse. For others, you will have to be content with the live broadcast by the American space agency on YouTube or Twitch.