On Saturday, October 14, a solar eclipse is set to occur over North America.
However, Canadians will not witness a total eclipse, but rather an annular one, where the moon won’t fully obscure the sun. Nevertheless, the eclipse’s darkening effect will still be visible north of the 49th parallel.
The eclipse’s trajectory will commence over the Pacific Ocean, west of Vancouver Island, and then proceed southeastward. It will first touch land in Oregon, just below Portland, around 9:15 a.m. PT, and will subsequently traverse seven other U.S. states before heading to Mexico and South America.
In Canada, the visual impact will vary considerably but will all fall under the category of a partial eclipse. For instance, residents of Vancouver and British Columbia’s Okanagan region will witness approximately 80 percent of the eclipse. As one moves eastward, the effect diminishes, with Calgary seeing around 70 percent, Regina at 60 percent, Winnipeg at 50 percent, Toronto at 30 percent, and Montreal at 20 percent. The Atlantic provinces will experience a 10 percent eclipse.
Now, regarding the annular aspect of the eclipse: it differs from a total eclipse in that the moon does not completely block out the sun. Consequently, observers in the darkest part of the path will witness a “ring of fire” around the moon. NASA explains that this occurs because “the moon is farther away from Earth, it appears smaller than the sun and does not completely cover the sun. As a result, the moon appears as a dark disk on top of a larger, bright disk, creating what looks like a ring around the moon.”
The prime viewing location will be along the 125-mile-wide path of annularity. If you plan on traveling south to view the eclipse, it’s advisable to start looking for accommodations now.
In terms of the anticipated duration of darkness, it is estimated to be four minutes and 30 seconds, with the eclipse’s path moving at approximately 6,400 km/h (4,000 mph).
However, a word of caution: if you intend to observe the eclipse, it is essential to use special eye protection. NASA emphasizes that “it is never safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing during an annular solar eclipse.” Moreover, “viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
More information about eye safety during an eclipse is available online.
An interactive map is also available online.
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