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The 2024 Great Mexican Eclipse

Watch the Moon's shadow fly from Mazatlán to Newfoundland!

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, spanning Mexico, the United States, and Canada. During this celestial event, the moon will align perfectly between the sun and Earth, completely obscuring the sun's face.

Mexico will have the best weather conditions for observation and the longest duration of the eclipse's total phase. For this reason, the national scientific community calls this event the Great Mexican Eclipse.

Although between two and five solar eclipses may occur each year, most are partial. The last time we observed a total solar eclipse in Mexico was on July 11, 1991, and the next one will occur until March 30, 2052.


MAZATLÁN WILL HAVE THE BEST VIEW
NASA has identified the city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, as the prime global location to witness this natural event(1). In collaboration with the Mexican Space Agency (AEM) and the Mazatlán Astronomical Society, NASA will document the eclipse from this northern Mexican port.

At Mayan Palace Mazatlán, where our 50-year-old extraordinary journey started, we are ready to provide our guests with the most amazing experience around this unique happening. See below to find out about the incredible family-friendly activities we have in store for you.

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According to astronomical calculations of the UNAM Institute of Geophysics(2), the eclipse will begin at 9:51:23 AM in the port of Mazatlán, and the entire phenomenon will last 2 hours and 41 minutes.

Mazatlán will experience the most extended eclipse period in the continent: 4 minutes and 20 seconds. The total phase will start at 11:07:25 AM and end at 11:11:45 AM, and the eclipse will conclude at 12:32:09 PM.

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SAFETY FIRST
There are a variety of filters with which we can safely observe a solar eclipse while in its partial phase. These filters block 99.999% of the visible light and 100% of the ultraviolet light.

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Eclipse glasses
This is an excellent way to observe an eclipse. Lenses are inexpensive, and you can get them at various online stores. Just verify that these are CE and ISO 12312-2.2015(E) certified for your safety.

Welding glass
Only welding glass with an opacity grade of 14 or higher is suitable for observing a partial solar eclipse. If you are unsure of the opacity grade of your welding glass, please refrain from using it.

According to NASA(3), you can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun's bright face—the brief and spectacular period known as totality. You'll know it's safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a viewer. As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately use eye protection to look at it.


ECLIPSE EXPERIENCES IN VIDANTA MAZATLÁN
For any guests who are at Mayan Palace Mazatlán during this fantastic exciting time, don’t miss these incredible activities during your stay!

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April 5
•  Kirtan & ancestral sounds at sunset

April 6
Conscious morning: activities for the whole family
- Let's make an eclipse for children 6 to 12
- Meditation with singing bowls for adults

•  Capsule for the soul: family constellations
•  Sound healing: with Tibetan and quartz singing bowls

April 7
108 sun salutations at sunrise
Morning Hatha yoga
Introspective sunset meditation: receive the eclipse with singing bowls, gongs, and binaural sounds

April 8
Yoga with singing bowls
NASA's eclipse viewing party: located at Mayan Palace Mazatlán’s beachfront. It will feature a live TV streaming telescope image of the eclipse with public telescope viewing and representatives from AEM, NASA SSERVI and Sociedad Astronomica de Mazatlán.

If you haven't yet witnessed a total solar eclipse, add it to your bucket list and mark the date. Seeing the sun's corona while standing in the shadow of the moon is truly breathtaking!


1. Reneé Lerma. (2023, December 19). Mexico Business. NASA Identifies Mazatlan as Optimal Spot for 2024 Solar Eclipse. https://mexicobusiness.news/aerospace/news/nasa-identifies-mazatlan-optimal-spot-2024-solar-eclipse
2. Instituto de Geofísica de la UNAM (n.d.) Eclipse 2024. Gran Eclipse Mexicano 2024. https://eclipse2024.geofisica.unam.mx/
3. NASA.gov (n.d.) Safety. Total Solar Eclipse Safety. https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/
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