A “Total Solar Eclipse” is set to cross North America, “passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada” on April 8, according to a report from NASA.

The agency defines the phenomenon as “when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.”

The astrological event happens every 18 months, with the upcoming eclipse set to be the first of two in the month, with the next projected for April 20, as per Live Science.

it will be the first time in six years, seven months and 18 days since the last Total eclipse crossed the Continent in 2017, the publication added.

In the update, NASA also urged persons wishing to view the eclipse to wear special protective eye gear

“When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times.”

“Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”