Again in April, North America was handled to a uncommon celestial occasion: a complete photo voltaic eclipse. Observers from Mexico to Maine witnessed an incredible sight because the moon handed in entrance of the solar and made it as darkish as evening in the course of the day.
I do not stay within the path of that eclipse so I did not get to see it in particular person, however I made up for that at this time. In case you’ve received a replica of Microsoft Simulator 2024, you may expertise an incredible simulation of April’s eclipse everytime you need.
Necessary notice: I did not determine this out myself. Reddit user Junior72 is the pilot/astronomer responsible for this cool discovery. They went into MSFS 2024, set the date to April 8, and watched the simulated moon passing in entrance of the simulated solar whereas flying round in a jet. So cool.
I wasn’t in regards to the miss the eclipse once more so I jumped into the sport this morning and tried it myself. I picked my airport as Dallas Love Discipline, proper within the eclipse’s path. I set the date to April 8 and turned the clock to about 1:35 pm, a couple of minutes earlier than the full eclipse occurred. Certain sufficient, wanting up into the sky I might see only a sliver of daylight left because the moon handed in entrance of the solar. It is just a little laborious to see within the photograph under with out enlarging it, however it’s there. (Please ignore my pilot’s horrible hair and face.)
A couple of minutes later it received eerily darkish, and the solar fully vanished from the sky. Wait lengthy sufficient, and the sky will start to brighten because the moon continues alongside its path. It is actually cool.
I feel my favourite half, although, is wanting on the eclipse from area. Utilizing the freecam, I zoomed approach, approach out till I might see most of North America. And there it’s, the complete shadow of the moon smack dab on Texas:
In case you personal Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, I actually advocate checking it out your self. Here is a guide to the eclipse’s path, which is able to let you know the occasions it passes over the varied areas on April 8. Hop into free flight, set the time and date, and benefit from the present.
