The moon will pass directly in front of the sun, exposing ghostly traces of the sun’s atmosphere

A total solar eclipse will sweep across the Pacific Ocean, through Mexico, the US and Canada and end over the Atlantic Ocean on 8 April.

The phenomenon occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, blocking out the bright surface and revealing the ghostly traces of the sun’s atmosphere.

The alignment has to be precise, and this gives rise to a narrow track of totality from which the total eclipse can be seen.

This month the track will be roughly 71 miles (115km) across. Outside the track, a partial eclipse can be seen but the further from the track of totality, the smaller the portion of the sun that will be obscured.