A partial solar eclipse is set to be observable in certain communities in Ontario on Saturday morning; however, experts indicate that residents of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area may need to travel outside the region to witness it.
While the eclipse will not be fully visible throughout the GTHA, some areas in eastern Ontario will experience the moon partially obscuring the sun, resulting in a unique visual effect on the horizon.
This partial solar eclipse follows closely on the heels of a total lunar eclipse, commonly referred to as a “Blood Moon,” which occurred just weeks prior. Rachel Ward-Maxwell, a Researcher-Programmer in Astronomy and Space Sciences at the Ontario Science Centre, notes that eclipses frequently occur in pairs, typically during two distinct seasons each year. She mentions that Ontario will see a maximum of 35 percent of the sun obscured, with peak visibility in cities such as Cornwall and Ottawa.
This situation contrasts sharply with the total eclipse experienced last April, when residents of Toronto witnessed approximately 99.8 percent of the sun being blocked.
Although solar eclipses happen every few years, Ward-Maxwell highlighted that the totality observed in the GTHA last year is a much rarer phenomenon.
“This partial solar eclipse will be visible to many in eastern Canada, providing a wonderful opportunity for individuals to observe the moon traversing the sun’s surface,” Ward-Maxwell stated. “Visibility will diminish further west in Ontario.”
When and where can you observe it?
The eclipse will commence at sunrise on Saturday, with optimal viewing conditions expected in Atlantic Canada and certain regions of Nunavut, according to experts.
Some locations may experience over 90 percent sun coverage, although visibility will likely differ depending on the area.
Additionally, a rare optical phenomenon known as the “double sunrise,” described by science journalist and amateur astronomer Jamie Carter, may be observable in select parts of Canada. Ward-Maxwell explained that this effect could create the illusion of the sun being “split by the moon,” but it is unlikely to be seen in Ontario due to the limited eclipse coverage in the province.
Ethen Sun, a PhD candidate in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, stated, “To witness a partial solar eclipse, it is advisable to travel as far east as you can. In Ontario, there is no location where you can experience the phenomenon of a double sunrise.”