A partial solar eclipse is set to sweep across parts of the United States on Wednesday, offering millions of Americans an opportunity to observe the celestial event. The phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align, causing the moon to cast a shadow on Earth. During a partial eclipse, only a portion of the sun is obscured.
The eclipse's visibility is expected to stretch across Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies, and into parts of the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes. Portions of the Northeast and New England may also be able to see the eclipse, with potential visibility extending south along the East Coast into North Carolina.
The extent to which the sun is covered will differ significantly by location. In Fairbanks, Alaska, approximately 37 percent of the sun will be obscured, while New York City may see about nine percent coverage, and Detroit around three percent.
For skywatchers in Anchorage, the event is scheduled to begin at 7:36 a.m. local time, peak with 28 percent coverage at 8:21 a.m., and conclude at 9:09 a.m. In Fairbanks, the peak coverage is expected at 8:27 a.m., and Juneau will experience 17 percent coverage at 8:24 a.m.
In the Northeast, the eclipse is anticipated to commence shortly before or after 1 p.m. local time. Bangor could experience 24 percent coverage at 1:53 p.m., while Portland, Maine, is projected to see 19 percent coverage at the same time. Boston is expected to have 16 percent coverage at 1:55 p.m., compared to nine percent in New York City and seven percent in Philadelphia.
Further west and south, the eclipse's impact will be less pronounced. Detroit may see three percent of the sun obscured at 1:36 p.m., and Washington, D.C., is expected to experience four percent coverage at 1:53 p.m. The eclipse is predicted to end between approximately 2:08 p.m. and 2:49 p.m. in the eastern U.S., depending on the specific location.
Safety precautions are crucial for viewing the eclipse. It is imperative that observers do not look directly at the sun during a partial solar eclipse without specialized eye protection, as doing so can result in permanent eye damage. Unlike a total eclipse, there is no point during a partial eclipse when it is safe to remove protective filters.
This partial solar eclipse in the U.S. follows a path that will also be visible across much of Europe and northwestern Africa, with the full spectacle observable along a narrow path spanning parts of Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, Russia, and Spain.
Separately, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak overnight from August 12 into August 13, with the greatest activity anticipated during the predawn hours. Under clear, dark skies, viewers could potentially see up to 100 meteors per hour. Ideal viewing conditions are expected due to a new moon, which will minimize interfering moonlight. The meteor shower will continue to be active through August 24, though the optimal viewing period is from approximately 11 p.m. local time until dawn.
Additionally, a parade of planets is scheduled to occur, a visual event where multiple planets appear in the same area of the night sky from Earth's perspective. Before dawn, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune are expected to be visible spread across the sky in a broad arc. Mars and Saturn may be visible to the naked eye, while Mercury and Jupiter might be harder to spot near the eastern horizon as sunrise approaches. Binoculars may be required for viewing Uranus, and a telescope might be necessary to see Neptune. The best viewing window for this planetary alignment across much of the Northern Hemisphere is expected to be about 30 to 60 minutes before sunrise, contingent on location, weather, and an unobstructed horizon.