If you thought last year’s total solar eclipse was a spectacle for the ages, then you’re in for a special treat: A partial solar eclipse is expected to take place this weekend. Although these types of solar eclipses aren’t necessarily rare, this will be the first time in 11 years that a partial solar eclipse is visible from U.S. soil. It’s a sight you won’t want to miss as the sun will turn into a bright orange crescent, mimicking the appearance of "Devil Horns."
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A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon, sun, and Earth dance around one another without forming a single line, in which case, we’d experience a total solar eclipse. (You might remember this happening in April 2024.) Instead, only a fraction of the sun will be eclipsed (AKA, covered) when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, explains the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a result, we see a crescent shape or "Devil horns."
According to In The Sky, the Devil Horns eclipse will take its shape on Saturday, March 29, beginning at 4:51 a.m. EDT, and will be visible for about four hours until 8:43 a.m. EDT. Peak viewing times may vary based on your location to the eclipse.
Unfortunately, for cities west of Baltimore, the partial solar eclipse won’t be visible. Your odds of witnessing the rare spectacle are greatest in northeastern Maine and Canada, where coverage will be 85 percent, says In The Sky.
Boston is expected to have 40 percent coverage ; however, that number quickly decreases as you travel farther south. Experts predict that New York will see 20 percent, while Philadelphia and Baltimore will only experience 10 percent visibility. Before setting your morning alarm, use In The Sky’s partial solar eclipse locator to find your city’s visibility percentage.
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For those who will be in the range of visibility, you’ll want to assemble your viewing instruments beforehand. Solar eclipses (whether partial or total eclipses) should never be observed by the naked human eye as doing so can "cause permanent eye damage within seconds," warns In The Sky.
"Viewing it through any optical instrument—even a pair of binoculars or the finderscope on the side of a telescope—can cause instant and permanent blindness," per the organization.
Instead, stargazers are encouraged to use cardboard solar projection boxes or eclipse glasses that comply with ISO 12312-2 standard guidelines. If you own a telescope, you can purchase "aluminized mylar filters/black polymer filters" to make it safe for eclipse viewing. "Never attempt to make your own filter. In addition to visible light, the sun also produces prodigious amounts of infrared and ultraviolet radiation which cannot be seen yet can still damage your eye," advises In The Sky.
Mark your calendars! A celestial phenomenon like this one won’t be visible in the U.S. again until Jan. 2029.
