Millions of North Americans will be treated to the view of a lifetime on Monday when the Moon blocks...
BBC. People across North America will be treated to the view of a lifetime on Monday when a total solar eclipse is set to span across the continent, from Mexico to the very eastern tip of Canada.
If you want to be part of the fun, here is our comprehensive guide to where and how to see the eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth or the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Earth.
One results in a partial solar eclipse, which covers only part of the Sun.The other - and arguably the most spectacular - is called a total solar eclipse where the Sun is entirely covered by the Moon, save for a visible ring of light in the sky.
For those in the Eastern time zone, the eclipse will enter continental North America shortly after 14:00 EDT, and exit at 15:46.The path of totality - meaning where the total solar eclipse will be fully visible - starts at around 11:07 local time in Mazatlán, Mexico, on the Pacific coast.
Among Canadian cities, the total solar eclipse will be the longest in Sherbrooke, Quebec, where it will last 3 minutes and 26 seconds.
People close to the path will still be able to see the solar eclipse, albeit a partial one, and the percentage of the Sun covered by the Moon's shadow will depend on where you are.
In Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center will host a festival marking the eclipse that will begin on Saturday and culminate with a viewing of the total solar eclipse on Monday.
Readers outside North America who want to see the total eclipse can catch our live coverage of the event on the BBC website.
If you are planning on watching the total solar eclipse in person, it is recommended that you have the appropriate gear because looking directly at the Sun with the naked eye is dangerous and could result in permanent damage or blindness.