Partial solar eclipse to be visible in parts of US this weekend: When, how to see it
Partial solar eclipse to be visible in parts of US this weekend: When, how to see it
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Before the month is out, skygazers in parts of the United States will be treated to another celestial show on the heels of a total lunar eclipse that gave rise to the striking "blood moon."
But this eclipse won't be "total" and it won't be "lunar."
Instead, a partial solar eclipse will become visible one night this week to several states in the northeast U.S. The phenomenon occurs when the moon passes in front of and partially blocks the sun from Earth, resulting in a shadow blanketing parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
The sight will look a lot different from the sensational total solar eclipse of April 2024 that dazzled millions of Americans, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth glimpsing.
Here's what to know about the upcoming partial solar eclipse, including what it is, where it will be visible and how to view it.
In the United States, the partial solar eclipse will begin early Saturday morning, around 4:50 a.m. EDT and end just before 8:43 a.m., according to the website Time and Date.
However, the eclipse will be visible and peak at different times depending on the location in the U.S.
What is a partial solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse is what occurs when the moon, as it orbits the Earth, comes in between the sun and the Earth. That differs from what happened earlier in March during the lunar eclipse, when the Earth came between the sun and moon to block sunlight from reaching our celestial neighbor.
During last year's total solar eclipse, spectators in the path of totality witnessed a stunning sight as the Earth, sun and moon perfectly aligned for a few minutes. The process not only ushered in uncharacteristic darkness, but unveiled the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, the corona.
That isn't what will happen during this week's partial solar eclipse.
As the name suggests, this time around the moon will only partly cover the sun, giving it a crescent shape, according to NASA. Instead of the signature circular ring, a partial solar eclipse is also what some skygazers outside the path of totality – the area covered by the moon's inner shadow – were able to see last April.
What states can see the partial solar eclipse?
This year's eclipse won't cover as much ground as the one from 2024, but several states in the northeastern region of the U.S. should still have a view of the partial solar eclipse.
NASA provided a list of select major cities where the moon's shadow will reach, along with viewing times. Because the partial solar eclipse will already be in progress during Saturday's sunrise in the below cities, that's when the space agency denoted the start time:
For more detailed information, NASA released a map showing where the partial solar eclipse can be seen.
Just like during the total solar eclipse, spectators should plan to wear safety glasses or take steps to otherwise protect their eyes from the sun's harmful ray.
But unlike during the total solar eclipse, there is no time during a partial solar eclipse when it is safe for skygazers to view the spectacle with the naked eye. In April last year, those in the eclipse's path had a few brief moments during totality where the sun was shielded and they could safely remove eyewear to take in the sight.
Because the sun will never be completely covered this time around, observers are cautioned to use proper eye protection at all times.
The American Astronomical Society maintains a curated list of approved vendors of solar eclipse glasses, which are the most common form of protection used for viewing solar eclipses. These glasses are not your ordinary sunglasses, as they must be thousands of times darker to comply with international safety standards.
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