Aprils

By Lauren Perkins, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center March 22, 2024Lunar eclipses happen during the full moon phase when Earth aligns exactly between the Moon and Sun, casting Earth’s shadow on the Moon. This shadowing dims the Moon and can turn it a vivid red for several hours. Visible from one hemisphere of Earth at a time, there are three kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. Credit: NASAApril’s solar eclipse has stolen the headlines for many months now, and rightfully so with millions of Americans…

April will bring the last total solar eclipse the mainland U.S. will see for the next twenty years or so. But beyond the beauty of an eclipse, skywatchers will also potentially be able to catch sight of additional planets and even a comet during April’s eclipse.According to reports featured on WFLA, the total solar eclipse may also give us some good views of Jupiter, Venus, and even a once-in-71-year comet. It’s exciting news for skywatchers, especially since the eclipse itself will be quite a delightful scene…

On April 8, the moon's shadow will glide across Mexico, into the United States and finally into Canada, producing one of nature's greatest spectacles: A total solar eclipse.But if you want to see it, you'll likely have to travel to eastern Canada — and into a very narrow path that stretches from southern Ontario, through Quebec into New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland. (In Nova Scotia, only the Meat Cove area will experience totality.) Total solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking out…

February 23, 20243min readComet 12P/Pons-Brooks will make its closest approach to the sun this April—right after North America is treated to a total solar eclipseBy Meghan Bartels12P/Pons–Brooks is a Halley-type periodic comet with an orbital period of 71 years. It was discovered in 1812 and later recovered during passages in 1883 and 1954. It is expected to brighten to an apparent magnitude of 4.5 (visible to the naked eye) during its upcoming passage in April 2024. Credit: Brandon Ghany/Horizon Productions SFL/Flickr…

Clara Moskowitz: For Scientific American’s Cosmos, Quickly, I’m Clara Moskowitz. On April 8, we’re in for a treat. A total solar eclipse will be visible across a broad swath of North America, giving us a view of the edges of the sun as the moon passes in front of its face. Here to talk about the eclipse and what scientists hope to learn from it is science writer Rebecca Boyle, author of a feature story in our March issue about our amazing sun.Hi, Becky. Thanks for being here.On supporting science journalismIf you're…

On April 8, 2024, a broad swath of North America—including parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada—will experience a total solar eclipse. It will be an awesome experience for people of any age, as well as an educational one for kids.It’s easy to get lost in celestial mechanics, though, so here’s a guide to help you explain the upcoming total solar eclipse to kids both accurately and clearly.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism bysubscribing. By…

The upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse will be the last total solar eclipse that the U.S. will see until 2045, making it quite an event for skywatchers. However, those planning to view the eclipse in person will want to invest in some must-have eclipse gear. Otherwise, you could end up endangering yourself. Here’s what you need.Eclipse glassesThe sun is a very bright and dangerous object to look at without taking the proper precautions. As such, viewing it during an eclipse can be terrifyingly damaging to your…

April’s often a tough month to swallow, starting with that awful holiday, April Fools, and then countless teases of warmer Summer temperatures before thermometers plunge and remind us it’s still Spring. April’s only saving grace is all the fun gadgets that debuted this past month, including many you may have missed.From 8K drones to form-fitting computer miceto SSD drives adorned with glowing lightsabers, check out all the coolest and weirdest gadgets that helped us get through April. April’s often a tough month to…

That's another Nintendo Indie Showcase in the books. As the name implies, these smaller Nintendo Direct-style events are solely aimed at smaller indie games, so don't glance through this roundup expecting to hear what's happening with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or (sadly) Hollow Knight: Silksong.Below, we go over every announcement and include every trailer revealed during the Direct, including a handful of Switch games that are out today and release dates for anticipated sequels like…

This may be a good time to be a fan of Bethesda's game lineup. Sony has detailed the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog additions for April, and more than a few of them come from Bethesda studios like id Software and Arkane. Most notably, you'll find Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. These are no longer fresh games, but they're still some of the better-known first-person shooters in recent memory. Other Bethesda titles bundled with the subscriptions include Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and the…