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.

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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 local time (22:50 on April 8th in Vietnam). It will then pass through several Mexican states before entering Texas (USA). The eclipse will then continue its journey across northeastern America, ending at the easternmost point of Canada at 14:48 local time (early morning of April 9th ​​in Vietnam).

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.

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Staff and visitors at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory watch the 2017 total solar eclipse. Photo: NASA

It is estimated that approximately 31.6 million people live within the area covered by the total solar eclipse's trajectory. If we extend this to a radius of 200 miles (321 km) from the eclipse's path, the number of people who could observe the total solar eclipse could reach 150 million. Areas where a partial eclipse could be observed included 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 was the total solar eclipse on April 8th so rare, causing Americans to go wild? Total solar eclipses have occurred many times before, but the eclipse that took place on April 8th in some North American countries is considered a once-in-a-century event.