On October 14th the Moon will partially cover the face of the Sun. From our location around Peterborough, the Sun will be covered about 26 percent, but this will be occurring in the early afternoon. A solar eclipse occurs periodically when the Moon gets between the Sun and the Earth. The next time North America will be able to see the Moon totally cover the Sun, causing a total solar eclipse, will be April 8th, 2024.
To observe at this coming event you will need clear skies and safe solar viewing equipment. Never look at the Sun without using proper safety equipment, like special “eclipse glasses” or better yet, come out to Harold Town Conservation Area at 2611 Old Norwood Rd., Peterborough and view it through specialized equipment provided by members of the Peterborough Astronomical Association (PAA). Even partial solar eclipses require special viewing equipment to protect your eyes. The Sun can damage your eyes if viewed improperly even for a second. The Sun will not darken on its own, even when partly obscured (26%) by the Moon. The eclipse process will start at 11:56 a.m. (local time) on Saturday, October 14th, with the Sun being midway through the eclipse and maximum coverage by 1:10 p.m. Then the Moon will reveal more of the Sun’s disk until the eclipse ends at 2:26 p.m. Come join the PAA at Harold Town C.A. and safely enjoy this event. Special eclipse glasses will be available at this venue to ensure safe viewing for those that participate.
So pray for clear skies and plan to safely watch a unique solar event with the PAA. You are also invited to check the PAA website: http://www.peterboroughastronomy.com/ for other upcoming events at www.peterboroughastronomy.com