Mainers will have a chance to catch a partial solar eclipse Wednesday afternoon.
It’s a follow-up to April 2024’s total eclipse, which drew thousands to the Pine Tree State to catch the celestial show before it crossed into Canada. One in 5 Mainers traveled into the path of totality, while two-thirds of Mainers saw at least a partial eclipse on April 8 of that year.
This year’s show won’t be nearly as impressive, but given we won’t be seeing another total eclipse here for some time, you may want to get out to catch a glimpse anyway.
Where is the path of totality?
The path of totality runs through Siberia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal.
When does the eclipse start?
The partial eclipse can be viewed in Bangor beginning at 12:54 p.m. At its peak, about 1:53 p.m., the moon will obscure about 24% of the sun. It will conclude at 2:49 p.m., according to NASA.
Down in Portland, the show begins a little later, at 12:57 p.m., and peaks at 1:53 p.m. with just under a fifth of the sun hidden behind the moon. In the state’s more southerly reaches, the eclipse will end before 2:30 p.m.
How can I safely watch the eclipse?
It can’t be stressed enough: Don’t look at the partial eclipse unless you have proper safety glasses.
Looking at the sun during an eclipse is very unsafe. A hit of concentrated light rays can severely damage your eyes. Your retinas don’t have pain receptors, so you may not know immediately you are suffering irreversible long-term damage.
For your own safety, you will want special eclipse glasses that conform to the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Some welder’s goggles (with the proper degree of shading) can be an adequate substitute, but make sure you do your research. Regular sunglasses don’t offer the same protection as eclipse glasses conforming to the ISO 12312-2 standard.
If you are hoping to observe the partial eclipse through a camera, binoculars or a telescope, you will need a special filter. Eclipse glasses aren’t an adequate substitute for a proper filter.
You also can use any number of indirect methods for observing the eclipse, such as a pinhole projector. (You can’t use a pinhole projector to look directly at the eclipse.)
When will Maine next witness a total solar eclipse?
It’s going to be quite a wait: The sun won’t be fully hidden behind the moon over Maine again until May 1, 2079.