(FOX40.COM) — While some parts of the United States will celebrate a rare total solar eclipse on April 8, most of the country will be able to see the sun partially blocked by the moon’s shadow, including many Californians.
The path of totality, the thin track of land from where the sun will appear completely blocked, will travel roughly from Texas to New York, but residents in California could still have an opportunity to see a partial solar eclipse.
How much of the sun is blocked out and at what time will depend largely on where you are in California and how cloudy it is in your area.
What time is the April 8, 2024 eclipse?
The moon’s passing in front of the sun could last a total of about two hours, with the sun slowly becoming more blacked out as the moon moves in front of it, but the time when the maximum amount of the sun will be blocked will happen between 11 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. PST.
People in Southern California will see the peak of the solar eclipse in the earlier part of that timeframe, while those who live in Central California will see the peak a little later, and those in the northern part of the state will see the peak during the final minutes of that period.
The amount of sun blacked out by the moon also correlates with the regions of the state, with those closer to the southern end seeing more of the sun darkened, potentially between 50 and 70 percent, while those in the north will see something closer to a 30 to 50 percent blockage.
Cloud cover could also affect your chance of seeing the solar eclipse.
The interactive map at this link allows you to enter an address and see the historical data of cloud cover on April 8 for that area.
The interactive map at this link allows you to see what the eclipse will look like in your area.
How can I see the solar eclipse?
The southeastern part of the state looks like it may have the clearest skies, with parts of the Bay Area, the southern coast and the northern coast having the highest probability of clouds on that date.
Because it is a partial solar eclipse, the part of the sun that does make it through will still be strong enough to cause vision damage and it is advised to only see the celestial event with proper eye protection.
