During the recent total solar eclipse visible in North America, NASA playfully poked fun at itself. The NASA Moon account, which provides lunar science and exploration updates, posted a meme featuring the X (formerly Twitter) profile of its sibling account, NASA Sun and Space.
The profile page of the account dedicated to studying the Sun and its effects on Earth humorously declared, “@NASASun is blocked.” In response, the NASA Moon account playfully quipped, “Oops, I did it again,” accompanied by a closed-mouth smiling emoji.
The total solar eclipse, during which the moon completely obscured the sun for a brief period, indeed created a captivating moment of absolute darkness.
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” the premier space agency said.
— Islam Uddin (@Coach_iu) April 8, 2024
The total solar eclipse of 2024 was a historic celestial event because it won’t be visible across the US again until August 2044 and an annular eclipse – which happens when the moon can’t completely block the sun – won’t appear across this part of the world again until 2046.
During the total solar eclipse, the phenomenon known as the “path of totality” swept across cities, casting a shadow where the Moon completely obscured the Sun.
This celestial spectacle sent the United States into a frenzy, captivating millions of people across parts of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Special watch parties and events were organized to witness this rare cosmic event.
NASA issued repeated advisories, emphasizing that direct viewing of the Sun without specialized eye protection during normal conditions is unsafe.
However, there’s an exception: during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face, it becomes safe to look directly at the Sun.
The total solar eclipse of 2024 was a historic celestial event. Notably, it won’t be visible across the United States again until August 2044.
Additionally, an annular eclipse, which occurs when the Moon cannot entirely block the Sun, won’t grace this part of the world until 2046.
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