When the moon's shadow crosses the Earth on April 8 during a total solar eclipse, it travels faster than the speed of sound.
On April 8, it will cross the Earth at speeds of more than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) per hour. According to NASA.
However, how fast your location moves depends on your current location.
Related: Total solar eclipse in 2024: Everything you need to know
understanding the moon's shadow
A solar eclipse occurs when earth when new moon It blocks at least part of the sun as seen from Earth. Every solar eclipse casts a large, blurry shadow on Earth called the penumbra. From there, observers will observe a partial solar eclipse. moon It gradually blocks out part of the sun and then gradually moves away from us.
Only during the total period solar eclipsewhen the moon blocks everything, Suncasts a small, dark cone-shaped shadow on Earth called the umbra. This is a total path, from which the observer observes partial phases on either side of the total solar eclipse.
Moon distance and speed
The width of the umbra (total path) and penumbra (partial eclipse zone) depends on the moon's distance from Earth during the eclipse. This affects the speed at which the shadow moves, as well as the rotational speed of the Moon and Earth. The moon revolves around the Earth from west to east, similar to the Earth's rotation, but it moves faster.
As the Earth rotates under the faster-moving Moon's shadow, the Moon's penumbra and umbra are projected as paths. Therefore, during a solar eclipse, the Moon's shadow moves very quickly over the Earth, but it is offset by the Earth's rotational speed.
Why does it become slower or faster?
If the Moon's shadow weren't rotating, it would be moving faster across Earth, but on April 8, it will still be moving at an extraordinary speed. However, it cannot run at a constant speed.
“The moon's shadow advances most slowly at the point of maximum solar eclipse near the town of Nazas, Mexico, where its duration is longest and the shadow's velocity is slowest.” said cartographer Michael Seiler. GreatAmericanEclipse.com. “As the shadow advances across North America, its speed increases because the oblique angle of the shadow on the curved Earth increases its ground speed.”
For example, according to solar eclipse expert Xavier Jouvier, on April 8 at 11:37 a.m. (UTC), the phenomenon began as an eclipse sunrise in the Pacific Ocean, during which the moon's shadow moved at a speed of 10,439,799 mph. It will travel at an astonishing speed of 16,801,217 km/h (16,801,217 km/h). interactive google map About solar eclipse.
It will travel at 5,535,176 miles per hour (8,908,002 kilometers per hour) as it ends up in the form of a solar eclipse in the Atlantic Ocean. But near Nazas, Mexico (the site of the largest solar eclipse, where the sun, moon, and center of the Earth are in perfect synergy (alignment)), even a pedestrian would be traveling at 1,565 miles per hour (2,519 kilometers per hour). . The shadow slows down until then, then accelerates, increasing its speed slightly to 1,597 miles per hour (2,570 kilometers per hour) when the moon's shadow enters the United States in Texas. They will then pick up the pace and cross the United States, leaving Newfoundland, Canada, and heading into the Atlantic Ocean at 4,727 miles per hour (7,607 kilometers per hour).
April's total solar eclipse will travel at speeds in the range of 10 million miles per hour. This is half the fastest speed. supernova explosion detected so far — It can reach speeds of 1,565 miles per hour, about twice the speed of supersonic aircraft. Make sure you are on the path of perfection and stand under it.
