Here is everything you need to know about the April 8 solar eclipse in eastern Ontario

On April 8, eastern Ontario will be treated to a total solar eclipse, a rare event that won’t be seen in Canada again until 2044.

On April 8, eastern Ontario will be treated to a total solar eclipse, a rare event that won’t be seen in Canada again until 2044.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sun's light and causes night-like darkness during the day on a very small sliver of the earth's surface.

This sliver is also known as the path of totality.

"During a total solar eclipse, the path of totality is a narrow corridor approximately 100 to 115 km wide where the sun appears to be completely covered by the moon for a short period of time (between 2 and 3 minutes). This is the most spectacular part of the eclipse," the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) says on its website.

While total solar eclipses occur about once every 18 months, you need to be directly along the eclipse's specific path to see the full effect. Most Canadians haven't had the chance since 1979.

While Ottawa lies close to the path of totality, where the sun will be fully covered by the moon, a deep partial eclipse is sure to bring fascinating sky darkening and edge effects.

According to timeanddate.com, Ottawa will see a partial solar eclipse, with about 98.87 per cent of the sun being covered by the moon. The eclipse will begin at 2:11 p.m. and will reach its peak at 3:35 p.m. The entire event will end by 4:35 p.m.