Today marks the day of a significant celestial event: a solar eclipse that will darken the skies in the northeastern US and Canada during the early hours of Saturday. This eclipse is distinct from the “Great American Eclipse” of 2024, as it will not be a total eclipse. Instead, it will be a partial eclipse visible in parts of the northern hemisphere.

Although this event will lack the drama of the 2024 total eclipse, a partial eclipse is still an exciting phenomenon worth observing. With proper eye protection, you can witness the moon taking a bite out of the sun. The timing of this eclipse offers a unique opportunity to see the “devil horns” – a crescent of solar light emerging from behind the moon – as it occurs at sunrise in North America, with the sun barely above the horizon.

When can you watch this partial solar eclipse and the “devil horns”? Let’s discuss how to safely observe this event.

What areas will experience the partial solar eclipse, and when?

The partial solar eclipse will be visible in areas of the northern hemisphere. It can be seen at sunrise in eastern North America and sunset in Siberia, Russia on Saturday, March 29. In Europe, it will be visible around mid-morning. However, the event’s footprint will be limited, with no eclipse visible west of Toronto, Canada, and Washington, DC in North America.

This global map of the partial solar eclipse from NASA may seem complex, but it’s essential to understand how to read it. The yellow curve represents the path of the partial solar eclipse, moving from west to east. The lighter-colored yellow curves indicate the percent obscuration of the sun, depending on the location and time of observation.

Most of Europe will see around a 20 percent obscuration, while the extreme northeastern part of the United States will see up to 89 percent of the sun covered. The Nunavik region of Quebec will experience maximum obscuration of 94 percent. The green lines on the map show the eclipse’s progress over time, with times given in UTC (four hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time).

However, the timing of sunrise and sunset complicates the eclipse’s visibility. The orange loop on the map represents the eclipse’s beginning and end at sunrise. To witness the maximum partial solar eclipse at sunrise, it’s best to be along the blue line running down the middle of the orange loop.

If the explanation seems confusing, it’s because the eclipse’s timing and visibility are indeed complex. Some locations with maximum obscuration will have a shorter eclipse duration due to the partial eclipse starting before sunrise. The sun will also be low on the horizon in North America, requiring a clear view of sunrise.

In Bar Harbor, Maine, for example, the sun will rise at 6:19 AM, with the maximum eclipse at 6:22 AM and 80 percent of the sun obscured. The partial eclipse will end at 7:11 AM, but technically begins at 5:26 AM ET, before sunrise.

Moving south, the best views will be through coastal New England, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, with the path ending in Washington, DC, where only 1.2 percent of the sun will be obscured at 6:59 AM ET.

According to Time and Date, only 44,800 people will witness a 90 percent partial eclipse, while 3,820,000 will see an 80 percent eclipse. This is significantly fewer than the 30 million people in the path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Will a total solar eclipse be visible in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

No, there is nowhere on Earth where a total solar eclipse will be visible during this event. For any solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth must align, which is a rare occurrence due to the moon’s orbit.

A partial solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth but isn’t perfectly lined up, resulting in a crescent shape, as if the moon took a bite out of the sun.

How long will the partial eclipse last?

The visible duration of the eclipse depends on the location and time of sunrise or sunset. Globally, the eclipse begins at 4:50 AM ET (8:50 AM UTC), with the maximum eclipse at 6:47 AM ET (10:47 AM UTC), and ends at 8:43 AM ET (12:43 PM UTC). However, this doesn’t mean the entire partial eclipse will be almost four hours long in any given location.

What’s the weather forecast along the viewing line?

Spring weather in the Northern Hemisphere can be unfavorable for sky viewing. The Weather Channel’s senior digital meteorologist, Chris Dolce, notes that cloud cover, rain, and snow may be likely in the northeastern United States during the eclipse.

If it’s just a partial eclipse, do I need eye protection?

Yes, any observation of the sun, even if only 5 or 10 percent of it is visible, requires eye protection to prevent damage to your retinas.

If you have solar viewers from the 2024 eclipse, they will work for this event as well, provided they are undamaged. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) states that modern eclipse glasses do not expire, but it’s essential to check for any damage or defects.

Solar eclipse glasses can be challenging to purchase at the last minute, so it’s a good idea to keep them on hand. If you need to buy new ones, ensure they conform to the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) international safety standard, and verify the manufacturer against the AAS’s list of approved brands.

Celestron is a reliable manufacturer of solar viewer equipment, and their eclipse glasses are available on Amazon at a low price.

What are some cool things to look out for during this eclipse?

A unique feature of solar eclipses during sunrise is the potential to see the “devil horns” phenomenon, where the crescent sun appears to rise like horns from the ground. This can be seen in areas along the blue line in the NASA map, such as Maine, New Brunswick, and Quebec.

Additionally, the sun is currently at or near solar maximum, which means it’s at the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. This may result in visible sunspots on the sun’s surface during the eclipse, making them easier to see with solar binoculars or a solar telescope.

Can I just point a telescope or camera at the sun?

No, it’s not safe to point a telescope or camera at the sun without a solar filter, as it can cause extreme damage to the equipment and potentially harm your eyes.

If you’re interested in observing the sun regularly, consider purchasing a pair of solar binoculars with a permanently attached filter.

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