April’s solar eclipse will only be partial in Western Canada: expert
Posted Jan 5, 2024 1:50 pm.
If you’re an astronomy fan, the biggest thing in 2024 will be the solar eclipse.
Every once in a while, when the moon makes its way around the Earth, it passes in front of the sun and covers it partially, or completely.
Dr. Phil Langill is with the University of Calgary’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, just southwest of Calgary.
He travelled to the U.S. to see a total eclipse several decades ago.
“Even today, with all the Hollywood special effects you see in the movie theatres — this beats all of those,” Langill told CityNews. “It’s unbelievable how cool it is.”
This year’s solar eclipse happens on April 8, but those in Western Canada will only see a partial eclipse.
To see the total eclipse, you’d have to head east to anywhere in central Canada or the Maritimes.
“That shadow is going to travel all across North America, right across Mexico and through the central U.S. and then off into central Canada and the Maritimes,” Langill explained. “And all of the big, populous cities, all across North America, all the people who live in these cities are going to get a chance to see this.”
He adds that because of how many big cities will be in that shadow this time around, there will be a record breaking number of people who get to watch.
