Getty A Partial Solar Eclipse in 2015.
While much of the country is excited for the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017, Connecticut residents will not have the best view of it. Like the rest of New England, Connecticut will only have a partial solar eclipse. However, it is still an exciting time and there will be plenty of gatherings across the state. The eclipse will begin at 1:25 p.m. ET and ends at 3:59 p.m. ET. The maximum eclipse happens at 2:45 p.m. ET.
Like neighboring Massachusetts and Rhode Island, only part of the sun will appear to be covered by the moon. For those lucky enough to live in the path of totality, the sun will be completely covered by the moon. The path stretches from Oregon to South Carolina, so the best place to see it is far from Connecticut.
According to NASA’s map, those in Hartford will only see 66.9 percent of the sun covered. If you’re in New Haven, 68.44 percent of the sun will be obscured. Bridgeport and Stamford residents will see about 69 percent of the sun obscured.
While it won’t be completely dark in Connecticut and you won’t see a total solar eclipse, it’s still important to use solar eclipse glasses to avoid damaging your eyes permanently. If you don’t have access to glasses, you can still use pinhole projection.
“Where we’re located, [Connecticut] will have a partial eclipse,” Kate Whitaker, an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut’s Department of Physics, told Patch. “Basically you will see the sun progressively dim and see an overall darkening. You are not going to see what you would have in totality, which is basically a golden ring, but we will see an overall dimming.”
According to the New Haven Register, Yale University will be hosting a solar eclipse viewing at the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium starting at 1 p.m. Eclipse glasses will also be available at this event.
Other museums, observatories and libraries are holding events throughout Connecticut. There will be events at the Connecticut Space Center in Hartford; the White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield; Ballard Park in Ridgefield; Westport Astronomical Society; the Hartford Children’s Museum; and at Middletown’s Van Vleck Observatory at Wesleyan University. CTVisit.com provides a full list of communities and venues hosting eclipse events.
The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford is hosting a Total Eclipse Celebration, with activities for children and families, along with food trucks, yoga and a DJ dance party. That event is free with regular admission to the center and begins at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Connecticut will also thankfully have nice weather for the partial solar eclipse. According to the National Weather Service, it’s expected to be sunny with a high near 89 degrees in Hartford.
