A partial solar eclipse with trees and birds. Credit: John Chumack
A partial solar eclipse will darken portions of the Pacific Ocean and North America on October 23. The moon will block out a section of the sun, although nowhere will it be completely obscured. For partial eclipses, viewing the sun directly can cause permanent damage. Use eclipse glasses or projection. You can even stand under a tree and look at the “half moon” shadows of the sun projected on the ground through the leaves to see how the moon is blocking the sun.
The eclipse is best seen in the northwest. Portland, Oregon, will watch the eclipse begin at 1:37 p.m. PDT, with greatest eclipse at 3:02 p.m., and the event ending at 4:22 p.m. Portland will see about 50% of the sun’s disk hidden. In Nashville, Tennessee, the partial eclipse begins at 4:50 p.m. CDT, with the sun 30% hidden (its maximum for that location) at 5:52 p.m. CDT, and then the sun will set at 6:01 p.m. CDT, while the eclipse is ongoing. Check Google maps for the October 23, 2014, eclipse to get the precise timing for your location.
Kelly Kizer Whitt has been writing about our universe for more than two decades. She is the author of a number of books, including the children's book Solar System Forecast and the YA dystopian novel A Different Sky. You can follow her on Twitter @Astronomommy.
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- astronomy