LOS ANGELES, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The total solar eclipse -- nicknamed the Great American Eclipse for its long path over North America -- will be visible in the sky Monday over parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states and eastern Canada, according to NASA.
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico's Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. Pacific Time, according to NASA.
An estimated 31.6 million people in the United States live in the path of totality this year. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality, according to NASA.
Excitement builds across the whole country for this rare phenomenon, but people also worry whether severe weather or cloud cover will impact their viewing experience.
After the total solar eclipse on Monday, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA. ■