Photo by Peter Jurik/Adobe
On April 8, the total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The path of totality is narrow, with most of the eclipse happening over the ocean, but significant land areas along the path include western Mexico through Austin, Texas; central Arkansas; the southern tip of Missouri; Indiana; Ohio; parts of New York; and northern Canada.
For those who can’t make it to one of these locations to experience totality, there will still be a partial eclipse visible in Minnesota. The metro area should see 70% coverage, and northern parts of the state will see closer to 50% coverage.
When the sun is only partially covered, it’s essential to wear solar glasses or another type of certified equipment to safely view the eclipse, says Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium productions coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul. The Bell Museum will offer solar-themed activities throughout the day on April 8, including planetarium shows, a live stream of the eclipse from totality, and more.
