Saturday’s solar eclipse in the Bay Area: What it will look like
The eclipse will cover roughly three-quarters of the sun over the Bay Area at its peak on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The annular solar eclipse is known as “the ring of fire” because the moon does not completely obscure the sun. A bright edge will be visible even along the path of maximum darkness.
The following are some event specifics:
How much of the sun will the Bay Area see?
In the Bay Area, the obscuration — the percentage of the sun’s area that will be obscured — will be around 77%. The magnitude, which indicates how much of the sun’s diameter is covered, will be around 0.8. The Bay Area will not experience the “ring of fire” effect, but will instead see the sun reduced to a crescent. TimeAndDate.com has video simulations of the eclipse; choose a city, then click the video play icon.
How long will it continue?
Around 8 a.m. Saturday, the moon will begin to cross in front of the sun, with maximum obscuration occurring around 9:20 a.m. The event will conclude at approximately 10:40 a.m.
Will there be a good turnout?
The forecast for Saturday morning calls for mostly cloudy skies across the Bay Area.
Do I need any special equipment to watch it?
Yes! Never look at the sun without proper eye protection, such as eclipse glasses. Sunglasses or smoked glass are insufficient. You can also make a pinhole viewing device to track the progress without having to look up at the sky.
Are there any events in the Bay Area where I can watch it alongside experts?
Yes. Among them are:
- San Jose Astronomical Association at Houge Park in San Jose
- Stanford’s Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology; register for free tickets here.
- Lawrence Berkeley Hall of Science
- Oakland Chabot Space & Science Center – San Francisco Exploratorium
What cities in the United States will be the most obscured?
How does it compare to the recent total solar eclipse?
The eclipse on August 21, 2017, had a totality path across the United States. It was around 75% in the Bay Area.
