Solar eclipse’s path of totality may shift, expert warns
Topics: Science, Space, World News, NASA, Canada
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg/ Getty/ NASA
Topics: Science, Space, World News, NASA, Canada
The upcoming total solar eclipse's totality zone may change and experts have weighed in on the matter.
If you're not one of the conspiracy theorists who believe the total solar eclipse could be a sign of something much more sinister and have actually made plans to try and catch the best glimpse possible you can of the occasion, then you may want to check a map because there's been some updates.
The total solar eclipse - where the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun at the perfect moment so the Sun is completely blocked out - is set to take place early next week on April 8.
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Many people have quickly started planning trips to go and get the best vantage point of the total eclipse, with experts issuing warnings about the crowding which will likely occur, as well as wearing the right protective eye gear.
However, some eclipse fans' plans may be about to get thwarted.
Basically, when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun at the perfect - but brief - moment, it causes a blackout.
A map of the path of totality shows where the Moon's shadow will fall on Earth and the total eclipse seen and for April 8, the path has previously been reported as covering areas from across the US, Canada and Mexico - with a handy map even being made.
Alas, the path is now predicted by Besselian Elements' John Irwin as potentially being narrower than initially thought - the haziness surrounding the actual size of the Sun throwing up some uncertainty - with 15 locations across the US and Canada now at risk of seeing the moment of totality even more briefly or missing out on it completely, Forbes reports.
As a result of the 9,200-mile-long and 115-mile-wide path now being predicted as 600 yards (2,000 feet) narrower, locations such as Lumsden Beach in Newfoundland were meant to see the moment of totality but - if the new map proves correct - now won't.
The new map of the path of totality also shows Rome in New York as seemingly falling outside the boundaries too.
But research scientist in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Dr Michael Kirk told Thrillist no map is '100 percent accurate' and that if you just travel a 'mile or two' further than planned 'towards the center of the path of totality' then this will 'quickly increase the length of totality that people can see'.
He added if the new map is right: "This difference would only affect cities on the very edge of the path of totality, where blanket predictions are difficult regardless - a few city blocks one way or the other could mean 20, 10, or 0 seconds of totality."
So, may the odds be ever in your favor. Happy and safe eclipse viewing!