When is the solar eclipse and how can I watch it?

People across North America will be treated to the view of a lifetime on Monday when a total solar eclipse is set to span across the continent, from Mexico to the very eastern tip of Canada.

Hundreds of events are already being planned for 8 April for eclipse watchers to step outside, look into the sky and catch this rare, astronomical phenomenon.

If you want to be part of the fun, here is our comprehensive guide to where and how to see the eclipse.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth or the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Earth.

The phenomenon is a cosmic event, requiring the Sun, the Moon and the Earth to be in just the right alignment for the Moon to cast a shadow on our planet.

When this happens, the Moon casts two types of shadows.

One results in a partial solar eclipse, which covers only part of the Sun.

The other - and arguably the most spectacular - is called a total solar eclipse where the Sun is entirely covered by the Moon, save for a visible ring of light in the sky.

Solar eclipses themselves are not that rare - in fact, there are about two to four that occur per year.

But the likelihood of seeing a total solar eclipse is much rarer. The Earth is quite big, and most of it is covered by oceans. More often than not, humans don't get to see it in person.

In fact, this is the first solar eclipse this century to be visible in all three North American countries - the US, Canada and Mexico - making this upcoming one likely the only one that most of us will get to see in our lifetimes.

The timing of the eclipse will depend on where you are located.

All in all, the phenomenon itself will last two hours. For those in the Eastern time zone, the eclipse will enter continental North America shortly after 14:00 EDT (19:00 BST), and exit at 15:46.

The path of totality - meaning where the total solar eclipse will be fully visible - starts at around 11:07 local time in Mazatlán, Mexico, on the Pacific coast.

It will then move northeast, over Texas, the southern parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois, before making its way to Ohio and along the US-Canada border. The path will end in the Canadian Atlantic province of Newfoundland.

Here is a breakdown of when the total solar eclipse will occur in US and Canadian cities, all in local time:

The answer to this question, too, depends on where you are.

According to Nasa, the total solar eclipse will span anywhere from one minute to four and a half minutes.

For people in the US, it will be longest at Radar Base, Texas, right on the US-Mexico border, where it will last a total of 4 minutes and 27 seconds.

Among Canadian cities, the total solar eclipse will be the longest in Sherbrooke, Quebec, where it will last 3 minutes and 26 seconds.

Astronomers in the US and Canada have mapped out exactly where the path of totality will be. As long as you're on that path, you should be able to catch the total solar eclipse.

That path is 115 miles (183 km) wide, on average. Some big cities along it include Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo.

Niagara Falls will also be a great spot to catch the total solar eclipse, whether you're on the Canadian or American side.

For Canadians, the path of totality includes Hamilton, Montreal and Gander.

People close to the path will still be able to see the solar eclipse, albeit a partial one, and the percentage of the Sun covered by the Moon's shadow will depend on where you are.

Jan Cami, an astrophysicist at Western University in Canada and director of its Cronyn Observatory, noted that people should also account for the weather.

If it happens to be cloudy in your city, that can hinder your visibility of the solar eclipse even if you are in the path of totality.

The vast majority of places within the eclipse totality path currently look as if though they will be dry, except for southern and eastern Texas where there will be a risk of showers and thunderstorms. Dallas is likely to be mostly cloudy and there may be a shower or two later in the day.

Those hoping for a view of the partial eclipse from Louisiana to Pennsylvania might have a lot of cloud and a few showers, most frequently towards the south. But there's no doubt there will be a few breaks in there too.

High cloud could affect viewing from Oklahoma to Ohio, but it may not be widespread so some will no doubt get a good view.

The best viewing conditions will be in New England, New Brunswick and parts of Quebec where skies should be largely clear.

New York might do well for the partial eclipse but there could be some high cloud creeping in.

There are many gatherings planned across the continent for those who want to share the joy of seeing a total solar eclipse, from the Pacific coast of Mazatlán, Mexico, to a football stadium in Carbondale, Illinois, to the Atlantic shores of Bonavista, Newfoundland.

In the US, Nasa is hosting a series of events, including a viewing in Dallas at the Fair Park Cotton Bowl Stadium, where renowned American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will be featured as a guest speaker.

Some celebrations will span multiple days. In Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center will host a festival marking the eclipse that will begin on Saturday and culminate with a viewing of the total solar eclipse on Monday.

These viewings and others are likely to be busy. On the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, officials are bracing for more than one million visitors - the city's biggest crowd ever.

On the US side, Terrapin Point, Prospect Point and the Niagara Falls Observation Tower have all been marked as "prime viewing areas" by National Geographic.

Folks there may also catch another rare sight - the sunny-day rainbow that hovers above the falls will become pink under the eclipse.

There will be no total eclipse viewable in the UK but there is the possibility of a partial eclipse being seen just before sunset in the western UK and in Ireland.

British cities with the best potential views include Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds.

The partial eclipse will last from 19:52 BST to sunset. About 47% of the Sun is expected to be blocked by the Moon but to see it requires clear skies to the west.

Readers outside North America who want to see the total eclipse can catch our live coverage of the event on the BBC website. There will be a livestream to watch it as it happens and regular text and video updates on a live page.

Coverage will begin at 09:00 EDT and continue throughout the day, complete with live dispatches from our reporters who will be stationed at eclipse gatherings across the US and Canada.

By Science Editor Jonathan Amos

Partial eclipse: The Moon progressively covers the Sun's disc. Everything gets darker and darker.

Diamond ring: The last vestige of strong sunshine decreases to a brilliant point of light, as if a big diamond.

Baily's Beads: As the diamond dissipates, any remaining light sparkles through deep valleys on the Moon's edge.

Totality: Day turns to night, but be aware also of changes in temperature, in the wind, in the clouds and in birdsong.

Corona: Your chance to see the Sun's hidden secret - the delicate tendrils of light in our star's outer atmosphere, its corona.

And then it all happens in reverse. Totality is broken by the beads. The diamond reappears and expands the light back to its normal blinding intensity, and the corona is hidden once more.

If you are planning on watching the total solar eclipse in person, it is recommended that you have the appropriate gear because looking directly at the Sun with the naked eye is dangerous and could result in permanent damage or blindness.

Experts recommend using solar eclipse glasses, which have a special filter that blocks damaging UV rays. These glasses are different from sunglasses, as they block all light entirely except that coming from the sun.

The American Astronomical Society has published a list of vendors who are selling solar eclipse glasses that will work.

If you already have a pair and want to test its authenticity, experts recommend wearing them inside. You should not be able to see anything except for very bright lights which would appear faint.

If you can't get glasses, two pieces of paper and a pushpin might do the trick.

Simply pierce a hole using the pushpin in one piece of paper. With your back to the sun, hold that paper above your shoulder so the sun's rays can shine through that small little hole.

At the same time, hold up the other piece of paper in front of you. It will act like a screen, onto which the Sun's rays will be projected.

You certainly can. However, eclipse photographers recommend a few hacks to make sure your pictures are as crisp as possible:

Avoid looking at the Sun directly without eye protection.

If you're using a traditional camera, experts at the American Astronomical Society caution against looking at the Sun through an unfiltered camera lens while wearing your eclipse glasses, as the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.

Whether you choose to snap a photo or savour the moment without your phone, the total solar eclipse promises to be an unforgettable experience.

"I've seen three total eclipses before and I have very vivid memories of each of them," Prof Cami said.

"People ask me, 'How is it as a scientist to watch the eclipse?' I mean, you forget that you're a scientist."

It is an "enormously awesome experience", he added, that you can not only see but feel around you.