WASHINGTON, USA — Although Washington state is not in the path of totality of the upcoming solar eclipse April 8, the moon will still cover a portion of the sun from our perspective. How much depends on where you live.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, blocking some or all of the light cast on the earth's surface for a brief period of time.
The center of the shadow that the moon casts on the earth's surface (places where the sun's light is completely blocked) can be relatively small, sometimes only 50 miles wide, according to NASA. As the moon, the sun and the earth all move, the center of the shadow will travel across the earth's surface, creating what scientists call the path of totality.
However the partial shadow can span thousands of miles to the east and west of the path of totality. For this eclipse, all of North and Central America will be able to see at least a partial eclipse, according to Space.com.
Here's how much of the eclipse you will experience depending on where you live in Washington state, according to TimeandDate.com:
- Seattle: 20.02%
- Tacoma: 20.37%
- Everett: 19.77%
- Port Angeles: 18.07%
- Spokane: 26.71%
- Pullman: 28.49%
In Seattle, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:29 a.m. and last until 12:21 p.m.
The path of totality will stretch from Central America to Canada, passing through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
How to observe the eclipse safely
Even when some of the sun's light is blocked by the moon, it is never safe to look directly at it.
For those who would like to observe the eclipse, people can purchase eclipse glasses, which are available online and in some retail stores.
People can also make homemade pinhole projectors.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has provided a step-by-step guide for how to make one.
Watch KING 5's coverage from the last solar eclipse to reach the Pacific Northwest: