Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador had the opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday afternoon, depending on the weather conditions. The partial eclipse began at 1:37 AT (2:07 NT) in Churchill Falls and gradually made its way across the province, expected to conclude in St. John’s at 4:37 p.m. NT. In Newfoundland, the moon was projected to cover around 50% of the sun, varying slightly based on location.
At the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, a group of enthusiasts gathered to observe the celestial event, equipped with special safety glasses for viewing. The event, which lasted from 12 p.m. NT to 5 p.m., was organized in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls.
Astronomer Hiding Neilson from Memorial University shared his excitement at witnessing the moon gradually obscure the sun through his telescope. He expressed awe at the rarity of such events, noting that partial eclipses like this occur only approximately every 50 years. Neilson emphasized the uniqueness of Earth’s solar eclipses, attributing them to the presence of a large moon, a feature not shared by many other planets.
Andrea van Nostrand, the lead of education and interpretation at the Geo Centre, highlighted the excitement surrounding the eclipse, mentioning activities for children to safely view the event without directly staring at the sun. She described the experience as “pretty spectacular,” emphasizing the mesmerizing sight of an object passing in front of the sun.
Meanwhile, a total solar eclipse was set to be visible across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small portion of Portugal. For some, like Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye, who had previously witnessed a total eclipse, the allure of such celestial phenomena led them to travel to Spain for another viewing experience. The duo expressed anticipation for the event, expecting a beautiful spectacle amidst a crowd of fellow eclipse enthusiasts.
In Canada, regions further north and east, such as Alert, Nunavut, were expected to witness a more comprehensive solar eclipse, with the sun projected to be 94% covered. Overall, the partial solar eclipse captivated spectators with its rare occurrence and stunning visual display.