Incredible map shows how solar eclipse hysteria has spread across the US ... trends now
A map of Airbnb bookings across the US has revealed just how much solar-eclipse hysteria has swept across the country.
The image shows Airbnb occupancy rates across the nation for April 8 when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun in one of the biggest astronomical events of the decade.
Blue dots represent low occupancy, about 10%, and orange dots marking maximum occupancy - 100%.
The map shows a large swathe of orange stretching rom Maine to Texas, following the solar eclipse's 100-mile-wide path of totality
More than 20 million people in the US trekked to another location to observe the previous eclipse, which happened in 2017.
Experts estimate that millions of more Americans will travel for this upcoming solar eclipse, which will happen on Monday, with totality beginning in Dallas, Texas, about 1:40 pm and lasting until 1:44 pm CDT.
A new map of Airbnb bookings reveal just how desperate people are to find suitable lodgings in which to watch the eclipse - with orange dots showing 100% occupancy rates and blue dots showing just 10% occupancy rates
The high bookings follow the solar eclipse's path of totality on April 8
This widespread surge in interest in the eclipse has benefited Airbnb, who looks set to cash in on the solar craze.
The app, which offers short and long-term accommodations, reported in late February that they had registered a '1,000% increase in searches for stays along the solar eclipse path of totality in the US.'
They further noted that 'Airbnb listings outnumber hotels by more than 15 times along the path of totality across North America, offering more amenities and in more communities across the path of totality.'
In order to accommodate the deluge of sky-gazers, more than a 1,000 new Airbnb hosts 'plan to welcome guests for the first time to help meet demand.'
Within the path of totality, the cities that will receive the most visitors are Austin and Indianapolis followed by Cleveland, Dallas, and Montreal.
Most of the travelers will hail from New York City or Mexico City.
The eclipse– which briefly turns the outdoors dark in daytime – will be visible for an estimated 32 million people along a narrow strip of North and Central America.
It will mark the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the world since December 2021, and the first seen from the US since August 2017.
Dr. Greg Brown, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: 'For observers in North America, this is your best chance to see a total solar eclipse this decade.
'Nothing quite compares to the day-turned-night that comes from a total eclipse.'
This Camper/RV in Pelham, Canada, usually goes for $129 a night, and is booked for Monday's eclipse. Many tourists are flocking to sites like this one, where their views will be free from light pollution
On April 8, the total solar eclipse will be visible along a 'path of totality', starting in Mexico and moving through Texas where it will travel up to New England and finish in Canada.
In any one location along the path of totality, people will see a partial eclipse followed by the total eclipse, and then a partial eclipse again.
Whatever your location along the path of totality, the total eclipse should be visible for about four minutes.
According to Dr. Brown, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon and the sun line up 'perfectly'.
He told MailOnline: 'It's only when it perfectly lines up, so that the centre of the sun and the centre of the moon pass in front of one another – that's when you get a total solar eclipse.'
Where the total solar eclipse is visible is known as the point of totality – but this is only the very centre of the moon's
