A total solar eclipse will sweep across North America from Mexico today (April 8). The moon will completely cover the sun, darkening the sky and revealing our star’s hidden outer atmosphere, starting in Mexico at about 11:07 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (8:07 p.m. Central European Time CET). It will then cross into Texas, USA, at 1:27 p.m. Central Daylight Time (8:27 p.m. CET), eventually ending in Maine, USA, at 3:35 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (9:35 p.m. CET).

While people in Ireland and Scotland will glimpse a brief partial eclipse, those in the rest of Europe won’t see anything at all. In fact, Europeans will not see a full eclipse before 2026.

Americans will have the chance to observe the rare occasion when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up. But eclipse onlookers may also notice uncommon occurrences, starting with unusual animal behavior.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) warned that the solar eclipse was expected to cause several earthly disturbances, including both physical and auditory animal reactions.

In a press release published in February, NASA wrote: “When darkness sweeps across the landscape during a total solar eclipse, unusual things start happening.

“Fooled by the false dusk, birds stop singing, crickets start chirping, and bees return to their hives.”

Today’s total solar eclipse brings rare celestial alignment, revealing the hidden sun’s atmosphere and triggering uncommon earthly disturbances

Image credits: Jongsun Lee/Unsplash

According to the space agency, the atypical animal behaviors date back centuries, yet the effects of an eclipse on plant and animal life are not fully understood.

As a result, NASA launched the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, which will collect the sights and sounds of the total solar eclipse on Monday, using observations sent by members of the public.

Kelsey Perrett, communications coordinator with the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, said: “Eclipses are often thought of as a visual event, something that you see.

“We want to show that eclipses can be studied in a multi-sensory manner, through sound and feeling and other forms of observation.”

As the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, blocking its light from reaching parts of the planet, in areas where the Sun’s light is completely blocked, it looks as if dusk has fallen, temperatures drop, and some stars become visible.

These changes can trick animals into altering their usual daytime behaviors. As a result, NASA’s project is particularly interested in learning about cricket behavior and wants to answer questions like, “Do nocturnal and diurnal animals act differently or become more or less vocal during a solar eclipse?”

The total solar eclipse could also affect air travel and delay flights. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a domestic notice outlining special air traffic procedures for the solar eclipse.

Consequently, the eclipse may have already caused disturbances to air traffic on Sunday (April 7) and may continue to do so until Wednesday (April 10).

The total solar eclipse could affect air travel and delay flights, as a domestic notice outlining special air traffic procedures for the solar eclipse was issued

Image credits: John McArthur/Unsplash

The FAA emphasized the need for aircraft operators to be flexible and prepared for potential adjustments in their flight plans and encouraged proactive coordination to optimize operations during the eclipse event.

Nevertheless, whenever a plane is in the path of a solar eclipse, the sky looks dark for a few minutes. Therefore, a solar eclipse doesn’t interfere with an airline’s operations — it’s almost no different than flying in the night, Dr. Frederic Bertley, the CEO of the Center of Science and Industry, told Skift.

Bertley added: “It shouldn’t impact how the aircraft itself will fly in terms of solar radiation or flares or darkening of the skies.

“It’s really from an aircraft and a pilot’s viewpoint,” Bertley said. “It’s just a matter of light versus less light. That’s all it is.”

The possibility of traffic jams and danger on roads has also been highlighted by authorities in different US states.

The possibility of traffic jams and danger on roads has been highlighted by authorities in different US states

Image credits: Pixabay/Pexels

Over the weekend, Kara Hitchens, manager of public and government affairs for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, said: “We realize Ohio is in a great spot for viewers, eclipse viewers.

“There will be a lot of people coming to the area.

“So, we believe [there will be] a lot of vehicles and potentially a lot of people who may have car trouble.”

Hitchens further warned: “Check your tires, batteries.

“Do your regular maintenance so your car is in good running order.

“Fill up on gas, you don’t want to get stuck in a traffic jam and not have gas.”

Sima Merick, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency director, recommended: “Have a preparedness kit in your car with paper maps, snacks, drinks, and a cellphone charger.

“Have a plan for the day and try to get to your location earlier rather than later to avoid traffic.

“We recommend making a plan for the day. 

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“If you’re going out and view the eclipse, know where you’re going to go, have a plan, get to that spot and park. 

“[Don’t park] on the side of the road or the side of the highway. Park off the road, out of the way of traffic.”

Texas officials have been bracing for 200,000 or more eclipse spectators

Image credits: Adam Smith/Unsplash

Colonel Charles Jones, in charge of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, reassured: “The patrol will have comprehensive services and emergency response on roadways. 

“Troopers will be highly visible in the days leading up to, during, and after the eclipse.”

Officials have also recommended not leaving right after the eclipse due to the number of people hitting the roads at once, saying: “If you can delay your exit, wait a couple of hours or wait a day.”

Texas officials have been bracing for 200,000 or more eclipse spectators, with Kerrville Deputy Police Chief Jerel Haley telling council members, as per Kut News: “Every community that we’ve looked at [after a total eclipse] has experienced not just heavy traffic flow, but an inordinately heavy traffic flow immediately following an event, and we anticipate the same.”

The City of Austin’s emergency management director, Ken Snipes, said: “Expect delays and long travel times.

“Consider avoiding or rescheduling nonessential travel or telework if possible.”

Other states have given additional safety notices, such as the Illinois State Police, which warned that the total eclipse will draw unchecked crowds in public places that should be considered terror targets, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

Moreover, local authorities have been preparing for drug overdoses as eclipse viewers try to enhance their experience.

The Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) in Springfield, Illinois, will track 21 special events considered “soft targets” for violent extremists.

A bulletin published by the STIC read: “Sites or events (that) are attractive due to ease of access, fewer security restrictions, and the opportunity to inflict mass casualties.

“This Monday up to a quarter million could turn out increasing the attractiveness of targeting mass groups of people.”

It is recommended to use eclipse glasses with an International Organization for Standardization certification to avoid permanent damage to the vision

Image credits: Jason Howell/Unsplash

And if you thought about capturing the historical moment with your phone, there are some precautions you need to consider first.

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NASA wrote on its official X page (formerly known as Twitter): “We asked our @NASAHQPhoto team, and the answer is yes, the phone sensor could be damaged just like any other image sensor if it’s pointed directly at the Sun. 

“This is especially true if you’re using any sort of magnifying lens attachment on the phone. 

“You would need to utilize the proper filters just like on any other camera.

“The best practice would be to hold a pair of eclipse glasses in front of your phone’s lenses when photographing the Sun at any point other than totality.”

The agency, however, also shared tips to properly record the eclipse using a mobile phone, encouraging viewers to share their eclipse experience by tagging @NASA on social media.

Staying on the topic of phones, various US states have warned of potential cellphone outages, with cell service being disrupted when a large number of people overload the system with calls, messages, and other data-sucking activities.

You can watch NASA’s tips to photograph the eclipse below:

Image credits: NASA

Theodore Rappaport, director of NYU Wireless, told Time: “​​A typical overload situation, such as some experience at a major football game, major sporting event or pop concert, is likely to occur in many places where the network is not provisioned for such an unusually large crowd.”

That means “anything more than texting” might be difficult until the congestion eases, Rappaport added.

There are additional health concerns, such as looking up at the sky during an eclipse, even for a few seconds, that can cause a lifetime of damage.

Dr. Lauren Dyak of the Woolfson Eye Institute told 11 Alive: “The sun can actually burn the retina, the tissue in the back part of the eye.

“It’s something known as solar retinopathy or eclipse blindness.”

Dyak said people often don’t understand the dangers of looking at eclipses without proper eye gear and explained: “Concerning symptoms would be changes to vision, such as loss of central vision, distorted vision, and changes to color vision.”

The doctor said it could take several days for symptoms to appear after viewing the eclipse unprotected and suggested using eclipse glasses with an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification.

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The standard set by the ISO for “direct observation of the sun” is classified as “ISO 12312-2:2015,” which means that any products marketed or advertised as “solar eclipse” viewing glasses that comply with the standard will “protect your eyes from injury” and provide a “comfortable view.”

ISO-certified glasses can be purchased online or at many stores for less than $5.00.

Dyak advised that if you noticed that your eyes did become damaged, you should seek an eye doctor as soon as possible, as some damage can be irreversible.

300 couples are planning to get married under the total solar eclipse

Image credits: Drew Coffman/Unsplash

The eclipse has prompted a few states to issue official states of emergency, including officials in Essex County, New York, who have declared a state of emergency running until Wednesday to prepare for the expected tourist influx and possible cell service disruptions.

As per Forbes, other states of emergency have been declared in Texas, Indiana, and Ohio.

But not everything will be considered a hazardous experience during the eclipse, as 300 couples have been reported to want to find the light during the predicted total darkness, planning to get married under the impressive natural phenomena.

An event called the “Total Eclipse of the Heart” festival will offer “astro-loving” couples the chance to get a free wedding near the time of the solar eclipse on Monday in Russellville, Arkansas, according to a website for the event.  

The event organizer, Rodney Williams, told KATV: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the eclipse and a lot of couples have unique reasons for wanting to be married during that time.”

Williams told the outlet that the event has “grown way above [his] original expectations,” with nearly 300 couples from across 22 states signing up for the mass wedding. 

Social media users had plenty of questions regarding the solar eclipse

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