As celestial enthusiasts gear up for the rare event of a total solar eclipse in New England on Monday, April 8, it’s essential to understand the phenomena unfolding in the skies above.
As anticipation mounts for today’s celestial show on April 8, let’s delve into the intricacies of this extraordinary event and what it means for observers across northern New England, Boston and beyond.
What is a total solar eclipse?
Eclipses, a dance between the sun, moon, and Earth, come in two distinct forms: “partial” and “total.” While a partial eclipse offers a mere glimpse of the moon’s shadow passing over the sun, a total solar eclipse presents a spectacle where the moon completely obscures the sun, plunging the landscape into an eerie darkness.
A total solar eclipse, like the one today, April 8, is rarer, and means the sun will be completely blocked by the moon.
What time is the solar eclipse?
The time depends on the exact region you’re in, but the average peak viewing time will be 3:27 PM EST. The total solar eclipse will cross through the eastern side of North America, passing from Canada, down through the U.S, Mexico, and then Polynesia.
What time is the solar eclipse in Boston?
The eclipse will occur in three main phases in Boston on Monday, April 8 as denoted below:
- Partial eclipse begins: 2:16 PM
- Peak eclipse time: 3:29 PM
- Partial eclipse ends: 4:39 PM
Where can I see the total solar eclipse?
The map below shows the path for the total solar eclipse. To view “totality,” when the moon completely facades the sun and causes the daytime sky to go pitch black, you must be in a town on the indicated path. Otherwise, you will view only a partial solar eclipse.
Path of the solar eclipse
This NASA eclipse tracker details when and where to view the solar eclipse. The path begins in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It will travel through Montreal, Vermont, Detroit, Chicago, and down through Mazatlan, Mexico. The path of totality continues to the Cook Islands of Polynesia.
New England towns in path of totality
- Most of northern Maine (Harvey, Lane Brook Hills, Sandy Point, Green Island)
- Vermont towns at Canada border (Sheldon Junction, East Richford, Fonda, Berkshire)
New England towns with partial solar eclipse
The April 2024 eclipse will be visible in all of New England, with totality in the towns listed above and a partial eclipse of 99-88% in the rest of the region. Boston will have a partial solar eclipse of 93.92%.
When is the next solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse to be visible from the United States won’t occur for another 20 years, in 2044. It will be visible on August 23, 2044 and travel through Canada, and only three states, the Dakotas and Montana. After that, a March 30, 2052 solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
When is the next solar eclipse for New England?
The next total solar eclipse to pass through New England will not occur until October 1, 2079!
How long is the eclipse?
The total eclipse viewing from partial to peak and back to partial, is about 2.5 hours. Peak viewing time is around 3:20-3:30 PM EST on Monday, April 8 across New England. The eclipse will begin about 1 hour before this time and end an hour after.
How to safely watch the solar eclipse
It is absolutely necessary to wear certified eclipse-standard eye protection when viewing the solar eclipse. Failure to do so can result in permanent damage to the eyes.
Can you use sunglasses to watch the eclipse?
You cannot wear regular sunglasses to view a solar eclipse. UV protection in eclipse glasses is significantly higher. Regular sunglasses will not provide protection and can lead to “eclipse blindness” according to NASA. This is a form of long-term or permanent damage to the cones and retina that can cause distorted vision and color blindness.
What are certified eclipse glasses?
Eclipse glasses are over 1,000 times darker than the darkest sunglasses, according to Scientific American. Beware of counterfeit eclipse glasses. Legitimate solar eclipse glasses will have ISO 12312-2:2015 film lenses, a safety standard, that must be denoted on the glasses.
Where to get eclipse glasses in Boston?
Several retailers are handing out solar eclipse viewing glasses for free. With the eclipse taking place today, many are sold out. It is recommended to call stores in advance to check their inventory. The following stores did advertise having solar eclipse glasses:
Free solar eclipse glasses in Boston while supplies last:
- Warby Parker
- Public Libraries like the Boston Public Library
- My Eye Dr locations
- Cumberland Farms
- Yotel Deck 12
- Larz Anderson Park
- Kingsley Park
Solar eclipse glasses for purchase (while supplies last):
- Revere Hotel rooftop ($5 per guest)
- View Boston ($10)
- 7 Eleven
- Lowe’s
- Home Depot
- Museum of Science
What is the weather for the solar eclipse?
Today’s weather is sunny until 2 PM. From 2 PM through 7 PM, there will be some cloud cover which may impact the visibility of the total solar eclipse.
What to expect for the solar eclipse
Ok, all you’ve heard is “eclipse this and eclipse that!” So, what’s the big deal!?
This solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event, both in geographical location (being in New England), and with it being a total solar eclipse. This is what to expect during your viewing:
- Eclipse phase one (1 hour): The moon slowly crosses over the sun, creating a dusk-like lighting in the middle of the day, and a temperature drop of about 10 degrees
- Eclipse phase two (10 minutes): For those in the path of totality, the moon will completely cover the sun, creating complete darkness, and a “ring-of-fire” lighting effect; for those not in totality, pockets of the sun will shine through in a crescent shape
- Eclipse phase three (1 hour): This is a reversal of phase one, the moon and sun part ways and the sky will slowly brighten back to regular daylight before the eventual sunset at around 7:20 PM