This past week has been a busy one in the space world: We’re talking about a telescope’s final destination one million miles from Earth, four tons of metal barreling toward the moon and a mystery in the cosmos that is baffling scientists.

Local 4 meteorologist Paul Gross was born in Detroit and has spent his entire life and career right here in southeast Michigan. Paul has researched, written and produced eight half-hour documentaries for WDIV, as well as many science, historical and environmental stories.

This year’s only total solar eclipse will cross South American countries Chile and Argentina on Monday, Dec. 14. Watch live coverage of the eclipse beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST Monday in the video player below, courtesy of Slooh. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon is the perfect size and distance from Earth to block out the sun entirely when their orbits cross paths. A total solar eclipse will cross Chile and Argentina on Dec. 14, 2020. Another total solar eclipse is expected to cross just below Detroit in 2024.

The only total solar eclipse of the year will cross South America on Monday, Dec. 14. A total solar eclipse will cross Chile and Argentina on Dec. 14, 2020. So, in those rare occurrences where the moon makes a direct path across the sun, we get a solar eclipse. Watch Slooh’s live coverage of the Dec. 14 total solar eclipse below. In 2024, a total solar eclipse will take a path quite close to Detroit.