Skywatchers across parts of the United States will get another chance to see a solar eclipse Wednesday, Aug. 12, although the show will be considerably less dramatic than the total eclipse that swept across the country in 2024.
The eclipse will be total along a narrow path crossing Greenland, Iceland and Spain. In North America, viewers will see only a partial eclipse, with the best views coming in Alaska and the northeastern United States.
For those in South Central Pennsylvania, the effect will be relatively subtle. The moon will cover only a small portion of the sun during the early afternoon, with maximum eclipse occurring around 1:50 p.m.
The amount of the sun obscured increases farther north and east. Philadelphia is expected to see about 7% of the sun covered at approximately 1:53 p.m., while Allentown will reach about 8% at 1:52 p.m. South Central Pennsylvania will see somewhat less, meaning viewers should expect only a small “bite” along the sun’s edge.
The eclipse will be more noticeable in New England. Boston will see about 16% of the sun obscured, Portland, Maine, about 19%, and Bangor about 23%. Presque Isle in northern Maine will reach approximately 28%.
In most locations, the partial eclipse begins roughly 55 minutes before maximum and ends about 55 minutes afterward. That would put the viewing window in Pennsylvania generally between about 1 and 2:45 p.m.
Unlike the April 8, 2024, eclipse, Wednesday’s event will not cause the dramatic darkening of the sky associated with totality. In our area of Pennsylvania, the change in daylight may be difficult to notice without knowing an eclipse is underway.
Anyone hoping to watch should take the same eye-safety precautions used during the 2024 eclipse. It is never safe to look directly at the sun during a partial solar eclipse without certified solar-viewing glasses. Ordinary sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.
Weather, of course, will determine whether Pennsylvania residents get a look at Wednesday’s celestial event. Even with clear skies, however, local viewers should keep expectations modest.
Source: science.com