Solar Eclipse This Sunday

It’s going to start to get dark a couple hours earlier than you’re expecting this Sunday. This weekend, assuming the clouds don’t blot it out, you’ll be able to see a partial solar eclipse. On Sunday, May 20, the moon will block out first a little, and then up to 96% of the sun’s light, leaving a thin glowing ring. The moon will begin to pass in front of the sun at 5:02 p.m. until 7:26 p.m., with it’s maximum coverage at 6:18 p.m. Sunset will follow shortly thereafter at 7:26 p.m.

According to the TNT, the eclipse will be an “annular eclipse,” and will be the first of its kind visible in North America in 18 years. It should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: you will want to be careful when viewing the eclipse. Try pinhole projection, or if you have some number 14 welder’s glass lying around that should work.

Apparently the best way to see it is to head south to California… We’re not going to be able do that this weekend, and we don’t think we’ll make it out to the Goldendale Observatory either. A quick Google didn’t turn up much in the Tacoma area in the way of viewing parties – do you know of one?

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