Vermonters are gearing up for Monday’s astronomical spectacle, when the path of a total solar eclipse will cross the entire country for the first time since 1918, according to NASA.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun’s rays.
Vermont is will be more than 800 miles from the 70-mile-wide band from South Carolina to Oregon that will experience a total eclipse — where the moon entirely covers the sun. The last time a total solar eclipse passed over the United States was in 1918.
Vermont and the rest of North America not in the “path of totality” will have a partial eclipse.
NASA maps indicate that 60 to 65 percent of the sun will be obscured in Vermont. Southern parts of the state will have slightly more coverage of the sun than northern regions.
Andy Nash, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in South Burlington, said the forecast for Monday looks mostly sunny, with very few clouds.
“Right now we’re looking for pretty nice weather,” he said, adding that there shouldn’t be any problems throughout the Northeast with viewing the phenomenon.
An interactive online map lets users check the partial eclipse beginning and ending times for any location (expressed in Universal Time, which is four hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time). The moon will start covering the sun at about 1:20 p.m. in northern Vermont, according to the map. The greatest coverage will come about 2:40 p.m.
Areas of the 14 states where the total eclipse will occur can expect nearly complete darkness, a cosmic phenomenon that can affect local weather and even animal behavior. Experts say people in areas like Vermont with significantly less coverage shouldn’t expect the day to go dim.
How to safely observe
The only way to look directly at the eclipsing sun — except at the height of a total eclipse, which won’t happen in Vermont — is with special glasses or handheld solar viewers. Looking directly at the sun, even when it is partly obscured, can cause eyesight damage. Consumer sunglasses do not provide protection.
Eclipse glasses or viewers should be ISO certified to ensure proper protection. The American Astronomical Society has a list of reputable vendors. NASA warns viewers to beware of counterfeits.
Most stores and websites are sold out of glasses, but if you don’t have a pair, there are still several ways to safely observe the eclipse.
One option includes projecting the image of the eclipse with a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Eclipse watchers also can create a pinhole camera out of a cereal box using these instructions.
Burlington resident Bill Gottesman created a website that allows people to print a custom solar eclipse sun dial based on their location. Viewers can track the eclipse’s progress on the sheet with an index card that has a pinhole in it.
For those who want to see the total eclipse without battling what are predicted to be epic traffic jams, NASA will be live streaming the eclipse as it is observed from across America.
Eclipse viewing events
Several viewing events and watch parties are being held around Vermont. Here are a few:
- Fletcher Free Library, Burlington: From 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., viewing party featuring learning opportunities from amateur astronomers, refreshments, and an eclipse live stream from NASA.
- ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., special space science-themed activities and a live feed of the eclipse.
- North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier: From 2 to 3 p.m., bring a shoe box to make a solar eclipse viewer.
- Montshire Museum, Norwich: From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., activities including an astronomical scavenger hunt, pinhole viewing and shadow tracing.
- Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, St. Johnsbury: From 1 to 4 p.m., viewing party; an eclipse planetarium show will finish the live viewing of the eclipse.
- Fairfax Community Library, Fairfax: From 1 to 3 p.m., viewing party with safe eclipse viewers for people to use.
- Hardwick Swinging Bridge, Hardwick: From 1 to 4 p.m., the local library will set up a filtered telescope and have eclipse viewing glasses available to use.
- Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences Nature Center, Quechee: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can create a pinhole projector for viewing the eclipse and check out a portable planetarium.
