The moon begins its total eclipse orbit in 2024

The moon was obscured by the Earth at dawn on March 25. It will then completely obscure the Sun on April 8. The photo of the moon was taken by NASA's satellite at the International Space Station (ISS) as it rose nearly 435km above the South Atlantic Ocean in a very special lunar orbit.

The first half moon above Earth's horizon was photographed from the International Space Station. (Photo: NASA)

March 25 began the first "solar eclipse season" of 2024 . At dawn on March 25, the moon was full and obscured by the Earth. However, it is not perfect. If true, this would be a total lunar eclipse, or Blood Moon, but it is only a penumbral lunar eclipse , in which the moon only moves through the Earth's outer shadow.

During the total solar eclipse that will take place between 12:53 and 5:32 a.m. April 8, peaking at 3:12 a.m. EDT, the edge of Earth's shadow will be seen moving across the surface. moon face.

On April 8, the new moon — called the New Pink Moon for the month — will be perfectly aligned with the sun and Earth, completely eclipsing the Earth.

All of North America will experience at least a partial eclipse, while areas within the 185km wide path of totality - the projection of the moon's shadow - will experience a total eclipse on April 8.

According to new research from NASA, on average a total solar eclipse will occur in the same place twice every 366 years.