What to expect during the partial solar eclipse

Skywatchers across North America and Maine are preparing for an unusual midday spectacle on Wednesday, August 12, when the moon will partially cover the sun. NASA and university experts urge viewers to use certified eye protection to prevent damage during the celestial alignment.

August is shaping up to be a busy month for astronomy fans. Alongside the annual Perseid meteor shower, the skies will feature a partial solar eclipse as the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun as the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. While parts of Europe experience a total eclipse, observers in North America will see a celestial alignment that creates the appearance of a dark bite taken out of the solar disk.

Viewing Times Across Maine and North America

The timing of the partial eclipse varies significantly depending on the viewer’s geographic location. According to NASA, Alaska and northern Canada will observe the event in the morning hours, eastern Canada in the afternoon, and parts of the northern United States from midday into the afternoon with Alaska and northern Canada seeing the eclipse in the morning, eastern Canada in the afternoon, and parts of the northern U.S. from midday into the afternoon. The eclipse will peak in Anchorage, Alaska, at 8:21 a.m. ET, and in Washington, D.C., at approximately 1:53 p.m. ET meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., it will peak at around 1:53 p.m. ET.

In Maine, the celestial event unfolds around midday on Wednesday, August 12 The partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout Maine around midday, weather permitting. Shawn Laatsch of the University of Maine’s Versant Power Astronomy Center noted that the eclipse occurs between 12:54 and 2:49 p.m. in the greater Bangor area In the greater Bangor area, viewers will see the partial eclipse between 12:54 and 2:49 p.m..

“The timings for viewing the maximum across the state will be within a minute or two of each other. Also, the farther north and east you are, the more coverage you’ll see. Caribou will have about 25% of coverage, while Portland will have about 21%.”

Shawn Laatsch, University of Maine’s Versant Power Astronomy Center

While Maine is not situated in the path of totality—which crosses parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain according to NASA The path of totality, where the moon will completely block the sun, passes through parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—residents across the state can expect a noticeable fraction of the sun to be blocked. For those who miss the August spectacle, the next partial solar eclipse in Maine will not occur until 2045, and a total solar eclipse will not be visible in the state until May 1, 2079 The next partial solar eclipse in Maine will occur in 2045.

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Safety Warnings and Eye Protection Standards

Because the sun is never completely covered from anywhere in North America during this event, health officials and astronomers emphasize that viewing it directly without proper protection is hazardous Because the Sun is never completely covered from anywhere in North America during this eclipse, it’s never safe to look directly at it without proper eye protection. Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists documented approximately 70 cases of vision problems among individuals who watched the eclipse, with about 40% of those affected having looked at the sun for less than a minute Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported, external about 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching the eclipse.

The UK Health Security Agency issued a warning explaining that the sun will appear dimmer than usual, which increases the temptation to look at it directly and risks damage to eyesight The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning and said the sun would appear dimmer than usual, which would make it easier to look at directly, which result in damage to eyesight. Experts recommend certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard Anyone planning to watch should wear certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.

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“You should never look directly at the sun for more than a second or two without protection. Solar eclipse glasses and solar filters block out 99% of the sun rays.”

Shawn Laatsch, University of Maine’s Versant Power Astronomy Center

Regular sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, do not provide adequate protection Regular sunglasses are not safe. Anyone using binoculars, cameras, or telescopes must fit an approved solar filter to the front of their optics If you’re using binoculars, a telescope, or a camera, you’ll also need an approved solar filter fitted to the front of the optics. Alternatively, viewers can use indirect viewing methods, such as pinhole projectors, looking through colanders, or observing images cast through gaps in tree leaves The UKHSA also suggested alternatives such as a pinhole viewer, watching the sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves.

Observatory Access and the Perseid Meteor Shower Conjunction

For those seeking a magnified view of the sun spots, the Versant Power Astronomy Center will open its Historic Clark Telescope Observatory to the public free of charge on August 12 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The Versant Power Astronomy Center will welcome members of the public to view the eclipse for free from the Historic Clark Telescope Observatory from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 12. Staff will also offer solar filter glasses for purchase at $3 a set We have about 100 solar filter glasses we’ll be selling for $3 a set.

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The solar event coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, cited by the Canadian Space Agency as the best meteor shower of the year, with peak viewing expected on the night of August 12 to 13 Cited by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as the best meteor shower of the year, the peak viewing night is set to be Aug. 12 to 13. Pierre Langlois, manager for space astronomy and planetary science missions at the Canadian Space Agency, explained that the Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle A spokesperson with NASA said that a Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth passing through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle as it moves in its orbit about the Sun..

Photo: globalnews.ca

“You have to be patient, but it’s a great spectacle if you’re lucky to be in a region where you can see it.”

Pierre Langlois, Canadian Space Agency

While meteor showers require no special eye protection and are best viewed away from city lights after 10 p.m. As soon as the sun is set, you want the sky to be really dark, so I’d say around after 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., should be maximum just because of the sheer darkness, the daytime solar eclipse requires strict adherence to safety protocols. NASA plans to stream the solar eclipse across multiple digital platforms including YouTube, Twitch, X, and Instagram NASA is livestreaming the eclipse on YouTube, Twitch, X, Amazon Prime, Facebook, Instagram, and NASA+ for viewers outside the visibility zones.