Skywatchers across North America are gearing up for a solar eclipse on April 8—a rare celestial spectacle when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, shielding the latter from view.

More than 30 million people across a roughly 115-mile-wide path will experience what scientists call totality—when the moon entirely blocks the sun. This path of totality cuts far and wide from central Mexico to Newfoundland, Canada, passing through 13 U.S. states starting early afternoon local time. Most of the rest of the continent will glimpse at least a partial eclipse.

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