What you need to know about the total solar eclipse on April 8

Are you ready for the solar eclipse?

It will be the most viewed in history

Here’s everything you need to know

The skies over North America will soon turn dark in the middle of the day again.

The total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, will begin along the Mexican Pacific coast and pass through Texas and 14 other states in the U.S.

It will conclude its passage Canada, according to The Associated Press.

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PHOTO: MundoNOW

This solar eclipse will last longer than the one in 2017

PHOTO: The Associated Press

The total solar eclipse on April 8 will be almost twice as long and will by viewed by many more people than the one that crossed the U.S. from coast to coast in 2017.

The moon will cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, a spectacle that usually takes place in remote corners of the planet, according to the AP.

This time it will pass through large cities such as Mazatlán in Mexico as well as Dallas, Indianapolis and Cleveland in the United States.

Approximately 44 million people live along the path of the total eclipse.

It will be the most viewed in history

PHOTO: The Associated Press

There is an additional 200 million in an adjacent 200-mile (320-kilometer) wide strip, ensuring it will be the most-viewed eclipse in history.

Virtually everyone in North America will be able to see a partial eclipse. You can also view it online as NASA will offer hours of transmission from several cities located along the route.

The Associated Press will provide live coverage of the accompanying festivities. And don’t forget your special glasses so you can see the eclipse safely.

Of course, everything will depend on the weather. The National Weather Service will provide daily updates on cloud cover forecasts along the route.

What is a total solar eclipse?

PHOTO: The Associated Press

During the solar eclipse on April 8 the moon will line up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, blocking out the light.

This total eclipse will last longer than usual because our natural satellite will be only 223,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) from Earth, one of the closest approaches between the two in the year.

The closer the moon is to our planet, the larger it appears in the sky from our perspective, which will result in an especially long and intense period of darkness.

The total eclipse will have its longest duration when it passes through Mexico at 4 minutes and 28 seconds. In other parts of the path, such as in Syracuse, New York, the total eclipse will last just one and a half minutes.

What is the path of the eclipse?

PHOTO: The Associated Press

The Moon’s shadow will trace a diagonal line from southwest to northeast across North America, briefly plunging communities in its path into darkness.

The total eclipse will start in Mazatlán, Mexico and end in Newfoundland, Canada.

Along that path, 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine will experience a total eclipse, including portions of Tennessee and Michigan.

The towns of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois will have the opportunity to see an eclipse for the second time, as they were also lucky enough to see the 2017 eclipse.

A comet during the solar eclipse on April 8?

PHOTO: The Associated Press

With a little luck, a comet and four planets can be seen during the total eclipse. Jupiter will be to the left of the sun and Venus to the right.

Saturn and Mars will be to the right of Venus, but fainter. The other three planets in the solar system will be nearby, but they will be practically impossible to see with the naked eye.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is passing in front of Earth, as it does every 71 years. Barely visible, it will be located near Jupiter during the eclipse.

However, it will take a sudden burst of dust and gas to see the so-called demon comet without a telescope, according to Anita Cochran of the University of Texas at Austin.

When was the last total solar eclipse in the United States?

PHOTO: The Associated Press

The United States has not seen a total solar eclipse since August 21, 2017, although a «ring of fire» eclipse passed through part of the country last October.

The moon was too far away at the time to completely block the sun, allowing a bright ring to be seen around our star.

The spectacular “ring of fire” extended from Oregon to Texas, and crossed into Central America and Colombia, before exiting through Brazil.

The town of Kerrville, Texas, a short distance west of San Antonio, is again in the path of the eclipse and many spectators are expected to travel there.

When is the next one?

PHOTO: The Associated Press

After the April 8 solar eclipse, we won’t see another until 2026. That one will be visible in Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

The next one, in 2027, will pass through Spain and North Africa, lasting an incredible 6 and a half minutes.

Americans will have to wait until 2033 for another total solar eclipse, but it will be limited to Alaska. In 2044, Western Canada, Montana and North Dakota will have a prime view.

Finally, in 2045, the United States will again experience a total solar eclipse that will be visible from coast to coast.