Boston, Massachusestts is not in the total solar eclipse zone. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a rare opportunity to experience the grandeur of the Great American Solar Eclipse. You do.
The Massachusetts city will soon experience a partial solar eclipse, which can be breathtakingly beautiful. However, Boston is not in the path of totality. You can see a complete Massachusetts solar eclipse viewing guide here.
“On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will have a solar eclipse. The Moon will cover at least part of the Sun for 2 to 3 hours,” the American Astronomical Society explains. “Halfway through, anyone within a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a brief total eclipse. The Moon will completely block the Sun’s bright face for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds. Day will turn into night, and (weather permitting) one of nature’s most awesome sights will become visible: the Sun’s diaphanous outer atmosphere, or corona.”
GettyA total solar eclipse in 2006.
According to NASA, the “total eclipse” path, “where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere – the corona – can be seen, will stretch from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun’s disk.”
There hasn’t been a total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States since 1979.
Here’s what you need to know:
ECLIPSE TIME:
ALERT: Boston will see a partial solar eclipse, obscuring 63.1% of the sun.
Start: 1:28pm
Peak: 2:46pm
End: 3:59pm
Next one’s in 2024.
The Courier Journal has a great interactive website that allows you to look up eclipse information that is specific to city. The site reports of Boston, “The moon will be in the sun’s path starting at 1:28 p.m. and continue for 2 hours 30 minutes. The best time to see the peak of the eclipse will be 2:46 p.m.”
TimeandDate is a similar site that allows you to see information specific to Boston.
Duration:2 hours, 30 minutes, 59 seconds
Partial begins:Aug 21 at 1:28:29 pm
Maximum:Aug 21 at 2:46:48 pm
Partial ends:Aug 21 at 3:59:28 pm
Times shown in local time (EDT)
DEGREE OF ECLIPSE:
How much of the eclipse will you see in Boston? “Partial solar eclipse visible (63.20% coverage of Sun) ” according to TimeandDate.
According to the Courier Journal website, “Expect to see the moon cover 63.2%.”
You can learn more about the differences between total and partial solar eclipses here:
WEATHER:
Getty
Weather is a factor in how well you will be able to see the solar eclipse (and remember to use proper solar eclipse glasses and do not look at the solar eclipse if you don’t have them. It could cause serious eye damage, according to NASA).
According to the Weather Channel, it was 84 degrees and mostly cloudy in Boston on August 21, 2017.
PATH OF TOTAL ECLIPSE:
How close will the total eclipse get to Boston, Massachusetts? You can watch the video above. It shows the path of the total eclipse, which will touch 14 states.
NASAPath of Totality.
However, partial eclipses are rare and majestic events too. There hasn’t been a total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States since 1979.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Boston is not in the path of totality BUT we still get to see a partial solar eclipse! 🌞Sunglasses won’t cut it– use proper eyewear 👍🏻
You can look up solar eclipse times and other information by zip code and city here.
If you didn’t get solar eclipse glasses, don’t risk your eyes. Here are instructions for a fun DIY viewing box that will allow you to experience the grandeur of the eclipse without looking at the sun.