Catch the Partial Solar Eclipse This Weekend: Here’s What You Need to Know

Partial Solar Eclipse to Light Up Skies Across Europe, North America, and Africa—Don’t Forget Your Eclipse Glasses!

Get ready for an exciting celestial show this weekend! A partial solar eclipse will grace the skies across parts of Europe, North America, and Africa. As the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, it will appear to “take bites” out of the sun, creating a crescent shape. However, experts caution that this natural spectacle requires serious eye protection—no peeking without proper gear!

This partial solar eclipse will be visible on Saturday, with the best views in the northeastern United States, Greenland, and eastern Canada where the sun will shrink the most. It will also be seen across western Africa, eastern North America, and northern Asia, making it a treat for skywatchers around the globe.

In the Americas, expect the eclipse to occur during sunrise.
Western Europe and Africa will get their view in the late morning.
Eastern Europe and northern Asia will see the eclipse in the afternoon.

The moon will gradually cover the sun, turning it into a crescent as daylight dims—like a cloudy day, but with an otherworldly twist.

While this eclipse won’t bring the total darkness of a total solar eclipse, you still need to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. Eclipse glasses are essential! Regular sunglasses won’t cut it—make sure to grab certified eclipse glasses ahead of time from your local science museum or online retailers listed on the American Astronomical Society’s website.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can still enjoy the event safely with indirect methods. Try making a pinhole projector with household materials, or even use a colander to watch the sun’s shape shift on the ground. If you’re near a shady tree, look down at the ground to see natural crescent-shaped shadows filtering through the leaves!

“It’s a beautiful game of light and shadow, played by the sun, moon, and Earth,” says Auriane Egal from the Montréal Planetarium. Juan Carlos Muñoz-Mateos from the European Southern Observatory adds, “The sky will feel like a particularly cloudy day, though the eclipse will be far from ordinary.”

Clear skies are key to getting the best view of the eclipse, especially if you’re in the Americas, where the eclipse coincides with sunrise. Be sure to check your local weather before heading outside, and try to get to a spot away from tall buildings or city lights for an unobstructed view.

Can’t get enough of eclipses? Don’t worry! Another total lunar eclipse and partial solar eclipse will be happening in September, with the best views in Antarctica and New Zealand.