Crowds from near and far, united in celestial anticipation, have started to gather along the Canadian path of the total solar eclipse.
The path of totality, where the sun goes directly behind the moon, will first cross through southwestern Ontario around 3:15 p.m. Monday and move east through Quebec and Atlantic Canada before exiting Newfoundland around 3:45 p.m. eastern time.
Iyalie Russell and Gabby Gregor say their path to the solar eclipse watch spot of Niagara Falls, Ont., started in a history of astronomy course last year at York University. There, they sparked up a friendship and laid their plans to eventually watch the solar eclipse together.
鈥淲e鈥檝e watched lunar eclipses before together and so it鈥檚 like, we just have to keep doing this keep with the trend,鈥� said Gregor, who drove down with Russell from Toronto early Monday morning.
Cities and towns along the path have braced for their populations to swell with eclipse chasers, with Ontario鈥檚 Niagara region declaring a preemptive state of emergency.
But with cloudy skies in the forecast for parts of southern Ontario, some may shift their viewing plans towards areas where clearer skies are expected, including Quebec to the east or the U.S. border to the west.
While the next total solar eclipse in Canada is expected to pass through western provinces in 20 years, the phenomenon only happens in any given location roughly once every 360 years by some estimates.
Much of Canada will still be able to witness a partial eclipse.
Brian Rogers said he travelled with his wife Mandy and their children from the United States to Niagara Falls, Ont., to view the solar eclipse.
Rogers said he and his family were eager to experience the eclipse again, this time framed by the iconic Niagara Falls, after they viewed it together in 2017 from their home state of Georgia.
鈥淚t was kind of surreal because all the crickets and animals around us started making night noises, and that was pretty neat,鈥� he said of the last eclipse. 鈥淭hey were confused about the situation.鈥�
Those gathered along the path of totality, ranging from 164 to 196 kilometres wide, will get the full show 鈥� weather permitting.
As the total eclipse approaches, the sky will darken and wildlife may go silent as if nighttime nears.
Temperatures will dip and the winds may even start to change. The moon鈥檚 shadow will start to creep up on the landscape to the west. Shadow bands may be visible on the ground, which some have described as resembling waves of light on the bottom of a swimming pool.
And then, in a shared moment of awe, eclipse watchers will see the sun move directly behind the moon. The sun鈥檚 brilliant white corona 鈥� its outer atmosphere 鈥� will circle the black disc of the moon.
This celestial dance, in which the moon, the sun and the Earth align, is possible thanks to some miraculous stage setting. The moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but it鈥檚 also about 400 times closer to the Earth鈥� making both appear to be the same size in the sky.
Total solar eclipses have been central to some major scientific breakthroughs. Helium was detected for the first time during an 1868 eclipse, and observations made during one in 1919 helped establish broad support for Albert Einstein鈥檚 general theory of relativity.
Experts say it鈥檚 important to don special eye protection for eclipse watching. Regular sunglasses will not do the trick.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his own plea for Canadians to put safety first during an unrelated news conference in Montreal on Sunday.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of interest in it, and the first thing is people need to remain safe and careful,鈥� he said. 鈥淕et yourself good glasses if you can.鈥�
Canada鈥檚 telecommunication companies have also been preparing their networks for a surge in demand in areas along the eclipse鈥檚 path. Companies said they would deploy additional infrastructure, such as portable cell towers, to certain areas to prevent possible disruptions.
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Here are the answers to some key questions about the total solar eclipse that will make its way across much of eastern and central Canada today.
What happens during a total solar eclipse?
The moon will be in a direct line between the sun and the Earth, creating a dark, quickly moving shadow on the face of our planet. That particular type of shadow is called an umbra.
For those watching from within the moon鈥檚 so-called path of totality, the sun鈥檚 rays will be completely blocked, plunging the surrounding landscape into darkness for a short time. Observers outside that path will see a partial eclipse, as the moon will block part of the sun, creating a lighter shadow known as a penumbra.
When and where will it happen?
The main event begins in a remote corner of the South Pacific as the sun rises on April 8. The moon鈥檚 shadow will make landfall that morning on Mexico鈥檚 west coast, then head to Texas and sweep across much of the United States.
When the penumbra arrives in the southwestern corner of Ontario just before 2 p.m. EDT, a partial eclipse will be followed by a total eclipse starting at about 3:12 p.m., according to Eclipse2024.org. The length of the total eclipse will depend how close you are to the centre of the path of totality, which on April 8 will skirt the southern edge of Lake Erie and southeastern corner of Lake Ontario.
The northern edge of the umbra 鈥� the shadow of the total eclipse 鈥� will slide across a narrow band of southern Ontario, barely missing Toronto, and then move on to Montreal, arriving for a brief total eclipse around 3:26 p.m. EDT.
After transiting northern Maine, the umbra will enter central New Brunswick just after 4:30 p.m. ADT. About three minutes later, the sky will noticeably darken over western Prince Edward Island.
After clipping the northern tip of Cape Breton, the umbra will head to the southwestern corner of Newfoundland, making landfall at 5:09 p.m. local time. It will leave the island鈥檚 northeast coast around 5:16 p.m. and sail into the darkening North Atlantic.
How long will the total eclipse last?
At most, four minutes 28 seconds at the centre of the path of total darkness over northern Mexico. As the shadow moves eastward, it will pick up speed. As a result, the duration of totality in the centre of the path will decrease from a maximum of three minutes 38 seconds on the Canadian side of Lake Erie to as little as two minutes 54 seconds in northeastern Newfoundland, according to Eclipse2024.org.
The duration drops off the farther you stray from the path鈥檚 centre line.
How fast does the moon鈥檚 shadow travel?
The moon鈥檚 umbra typically travels at an average speed of 2,400 kilometres per hour, NASA says.
How can I view the eclipse safely?
Eye damage can result if you look directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse. Protect your eyes with certified eclipse glasses, which can be purchased online. And make sure they are not scratched or torn.
When the moon completely blocks the sun, eclipse glasses can be removed to observe the sun鈥檚 corona 鈥� the wispy tendrils of light that show the outer limits of the sun鈥檚 energetic atmosphere. But as the moon moves away and the partial eclipse resumes, eye protection is a must.
How big is the moon鈥檚 shadow?
The moon is about 3,400 kilometres in diameter, but its shadow tapers as it reaches the Earth. During next month鈥檚 total eclipse, the path of the umbra will be about 185 kilometres wide. The width varies with each eclipse.
What should I watch for when the total eclipse arrives?
Assuming there is little cloud cover, the sun鈥檚 rays will disappear into twilight, glimmering stars and planets will appear and the horizon will glow orange like at sunset. As well, the temperature will drop and nearby animals may act strangely, experts say.
Be sure to watch for the emergence of Bailey鈥檚 beads and the diamond ring effect, cosmic phenomena that appear to the naked eye only during a total eclipse.
Are total solar eclipses rare?
They appear once or twice every year somewhere on the planet, according to NASA. Most locations typically wait between 400 and 1,000 years for a repeat performance.
Nova Scotia, however, was visited by total solar eclipses in 1970 and again in 1972. And next month鈥檚 eclipse will also track across the northern tip of Cape Breton.
Since 1963, Canadians have witnessed five total solar eclipses, though the one in 2008 tracked across the upper reaches of the Arctic.
When is the next total solar eclipse?
In 2026, a total solar eclipse will glide across northern Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
The next total solar eclipse in North America will arrive on March 30, 2033, but only in Alaska. For those living farther south, you鈥檒l have to wait until 2044, when the moon鈥檚 shadow will sweep across Western Canada, Montana and North Dakota.
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