For the first time in over two years, a total solar eclipse will be viewable from Earth on Wednesday, casting a shadow across a wide swath of the Northern Hemisphere.
Though Michiganders across the state will only get to experience a partial eclipse, those watching the sky in parts of northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small corner of Portugal will experience totality — the point at which the moon completely blocks the face of the sun.
In Detroit, the partial eclipse will begin at 1:03 p.m., reach its maximum coverage (around 3%) at 1:36 p.m., and end at 2:08 p.m. The farther northeast you are, the bigger the “bite” out of the sun will appear.
See how the eclipse will look in your city here.
Whether you’ll be in the path of totality or a partial eclipse, here are a few things to know ahead of tomorrow’s rare celestial event.
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What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when a new moon moves between the sun and Earth, blocking out the sun’s rays and casting a shadow on parts of Earth.
How often do solar eclipses occur?
There are between two and five solar eclipses every year, each visible only along a specific area.
The last total solar eclipse viewable in the U.S. was on April 8, 2024, with only a small portion of southern Michigan able to experience totality.
The next total solar eclipse will take place on Aug. 2, 2027, and will be viewable in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In the U.S., the next three total solar eclipses will occur in 2033, 2044, and 2045.
What are the different types of solar eclipses?
There are four types of solar eclipses:
- Partial solar eclipse - Occurs when the moon partially obscures the sun’s disk and casts only its penumbra — the lighter, outer part of a shadow where a light source is partly blocked — onto the Earth
- Annular solar eclipse - Occurs when the moon isn’t big enough to cover the entire disk of the sun, and the sun’s outer edges remain visible to form a ring of fire in the sky. This happens when the moon is near apogee, the point in a geocentric orbit where an object is farthest away
- Total solar eclipse - Occurs when the moon covers the sun completely. This can only happen when the moon is near perigee, the point of the moon’s orbit closest to Earth
- Hybrid Solar Eclipse - This is the rarest type of solar eclipse, occuring when the same eclipse changes from an annular to a total solar eclipse, and/or vice versa, along the eclipse’s path
What safety measures should be taken when viewing a solar eclipse?
Other than the moment of totality, when the moon completely blocks out the sun’s light, it is not safe to view a total or partial solar eclipse with the naked eye.
Experts advise that viewers use specialized eye protection to avoid severe injury, as well as using solar filters when viewing an eclipse through a camera lens, binoculars, or telescope.
If I’m not in the path of totality, where can I watch the total solar eclipse on Wednesday?
NASA will be streaming the total solar eclipse live on Wednesday, beginning at 1:15 p.m. ET, at nasa.gov/live.