A partial annular solar eclipse will soon dull the sky over Toronto, and it will be your only chance to watch one for at least the next six years.
Locals may notice the sky become somewhat darker around noon on October 14, as the moon crosses in front of the sun in one of the last eclipse-viewing opportunities available to Canadians this decade.
This annular solar eclipse, which will last approximately two hours and begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday, will occur when the moon crosses over the sun at a point where its orbit veers slightly from its typical route around the Earth.
The eclipse will create an amazing darkening of the midday skies for watchers in Western Canada. However, it will be less spectacular in the east, with viewing conditions dropping from a projected peak of 80% coverage on the west coast to 10% on the east coast.
The eclipse’s coverage in Ontario is projected to range from 20 to 40%, depending on location.
Even during peak conditions out west, Canadians will observe a gloomy sky with crescent-shaped shadows cast by the partially covered sun.
It should go without saying that people SHOULD NOT see an eclipse with their bare eyes, as it can inflict serious retinal damage. Anyone seeking to witness the event for themselves should wear eclipse glasses made for such viewings, while welding goggles and special types of camera lens filters would suffice in a pinch.
Saturday’s partial solar eclipse will be the final one seen to a vast percentage of Canadians until 2029.
However, Saturday’s celestial event will serve as a preview of an even larger and greater eclipse that will be visible to Canadians next year.An even more unusual complete eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, and is likely to be viewable in areas of Canada.
This will be the final complete eclipse visible over much of Canada for over 20 years, with the next one not scheduled until August 2044.
The last total eclipse seen in Canada was in 2017, when thousands rushed to the streets to watch the sky over Toronto briefly darken.
