What is a solar eclipse?

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Vermont Public

Nature, Language, Kids & Family, Science

4.4 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 22 March 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A solar eclipse is coming to North America on April 8, 2024. The moon will line up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, blocking out the sun’s light and casting a shadow that will pass over parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada. People in the path of totality will experience a few minutes of darkness during the day as the moon perfectly covers the sun. Those not in the path of totality in those countries will still experience a partial solar eclipse. In this episode, we’re answering questions about the eclipse and talking about how to keep your eyes safe if you’re watching it! We speak with Bridgewater State University solar physicist Martina Arndt, Fairbanks Museum planetarium director Mark Breen and Thomas A. Hockey, author of America’s First Eclipse Chasers.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	On April 8th, parts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States will experience a total solar eclipse.
0:07.0	For those of us in the path of totality, the skies will darken.
0:10.0	And if it's not cloudy, you might even be able to see the Corona, the outer
0:14.4	atmosphere of the sun. I'll be at the Fairbanks Museum with Planetarium
0:19.2	Director Mark Breen for a live special broadcast and you can listen or watch. It's live on April 8th
0:26.5	from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern time. Join us online from anywhere in the world at
0:31.8	Vermont public.org. You'll be able to call in
0:35.2	and ask your questions live. That's April 8th from 3 to 4 p.m. eastern just go to
0:40.4	vermont public.org. This is, but why, a podcast for Curious Kids from Vermont Public.
1:08.0	I'm Jane Lindholm.
1:09.4	On this show we take questions from Curious Kids, just like like you and we find interesting people to
1:14.3	answer them. On April 8th, 2024 something is happening in the skies over North
1:21.2	America.
1:22.6	A Total Solar Eclipse.
1:25.6	It's being called the Great American Eclipse
1:27.9	because the path of the Total Eclipse
1:30.0	cuts across parts of Mexico,
1:32.3	almost all the way across the
1:34.0	from parts of Mexico, almost all the way across the US, from west to east, and then into eastern Canada.
1:37.3	I think it should be called the Great North American Eclipse,
1:40.0	personally, but they're calling it the Great American Eclipse.
1:44.0	What's happening during a solar eclipse is that the moon lines up perfectly between the Earth and the Sun
	...

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