Massachusetts residents won't see Saturday's annular solar eclipse in full "ring of fire" glamour like their western U.S. counterparts, but they are in for a partial spectacle. As CBS News Boston reports, around 1:26 p.m., the moon will obscure roughly 17% of the sun. However, peering directly into the sun during the eclipse without protection is unsafe.
Specialized eye equipment or solar viewing glasses are recommended to safely observe this event. There are also a number of indirect viewing methods, such as pinhole viewers and with other handy household items. Coverage will vary, but NBC Boston states that in New England, approximately 10-20% of the sun will be hidden between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Safety is paramount regardless of the viewing method chosen.
Depending on geographical location and weather conditions, the visibility of this spectacle might vary. According to CBS News Boston, northeastern regions offer the best views. Saturday's eclipse is a warm-up for the grand total solar eclipse, a must-see cosmic event that will cover parts of New England on April 8, 2024.
A total solar eclipse, a rare scene in which the moon entirely obscures the sun, graces any given location approximately once in every 375 years. Northern Vermont and New Hampshire can expect to fully experience the 2024 spectacle. As mentioned by NBC Boston, witnessing day morph into night within minutes creates a surreal experience.
If Saturday's partial solar eclipse escapes your observation, don't fret. WBUR confirms another major celestial occurrence will occur in a few years. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will take place, in which the moon will blot out the sun completely, revealing an unforgettable spectacle. The succeeding total solar eclipse observed from the U.S. mainland is estimated for August 23, 2044.
