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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Here's what the 93% partial solar eclipse will look (and feel) like in Boston
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We’re actually excited it’s Monday. A once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse will pass through New England today — and the weather is looking pretty perfect for the rare celestial event.
Hundreds of thousands of people are chasing the “path of totality” to places like northern New England for the experience of seeing the moon 100% block out the sun. But what if you couldn’t — or didn’t care enough to — take the day off? Massachusetts is still getting a partial eclipse, which experts say will be pretty cool (if not quite as otherworldly as totality).
Here’s what to expect:
So close, but so far: The Boston area will see around 93% totality — and some parts of Massachusetts will reach 95% the further north and west you go. It means “just the tiniest sliver of the sun” will be visible, according to Caity Sullivan, a planetarium educator at the Museum of Science. That makes a big difference compared to 100% totality; people in Massachusetts won’t get night-like darkness of a total eclipse or be able to see the sun’s atmospheric flares. But Sullivan says it’s still an “incredible thing to witness.” “It’s definitely still worth looking up from Boston or Massachusetts, even if you can’t travel,” she said.
- When to look: The moon will start to slowly move in front of the sun just after 2 p.m. and reach peak coverage around 3:30 p.m. (The eclipse will end a little after 4:30 p.m.)
- What to expect: While not nearly as dramatic as totality, the sky still will get noticeably darker. Sullivan compares the change in light to “somewhere between a very cloudy day and dusk.” The temperature might also drop by a few degrees.
- What to look for: You’ll want to get a good view of the sun — but only through the proper eclipse glasses to avoid damage to your eyes. At peak 93% coverage, Sullivan says locals should also be able to see some brighter planets. “Venus will be very visible in the western part of the sky, and then Jupiter should be visible as well,” she said.
- Where to watch: There are a number of free viewing parties in the Boston area and around Massachusetts, some of which will have eclipse glasses for those who didn’t bring their own. Browse through all the events in our complete eclipse guide. (That said, if you’re busy, the main advice is to just get outside.)
- Snap a pic: Click here for simple tips on how to safely photograph the eclipse with your cellphone, whether you’re seeing a partial or total eclipse.
- Want a party trick? Bring out a colander or strainer. During the eclipse, you can hold it up and the holes will project the image of the partially covered sun on the ground. “You’ll have all these little crescent shadows,” Sullivan said.
Making an eclipse day trip? Beware: If you’ve decided the path of totality is worth the drive (and scientists generally endorse that decision), be prepared for traffic in places you wouldn’t usually expect. Vermont is bracing for as many as 160,000 visitors to take to its highways. (“Think of this as peak foliage weekend on steroids,” Gov. Phil Scott said.)
- The official advice: Leave early, stay late and make sure you have a full tank of gas (or full charge, for the EV drivers). Click here for a full primer on eclipse day trip tips.
In other news: The Steamship Authority has canceled all high-speed ferry trips between Hyannis and Nantucket through at least this afternoon, after a four-inch crack was discovered yesterday in the hull of the authority’s M/V Iyanough. (That’s the authority’s only high-speed ferry vessel.) The ship is out of service and the timeline for repairs is unclear.
- Until then: You can still reserve tickets on the authority’s car ferry to Nantucket, but all booking on the high-speed, passenger-only route is temporarily suspended.
P.S.— You don’t need special glasses for this. Even if you can’t make it north, there are ways to stream the 100% total eclipse online, thanks to NASA and Vermont Public. Then again, New England won’t see another total solar eclipse until 2079. So, maybe it’s worth the traffic.
