While most Michiganders won’t see the total solar eclipse on April 8, Oakland County residents can still experience a partial eclipse from 1:57 to 4:30 p.m. with the best view around 3:14 p.m., according to The Great American Eclipse. This will be the first total solar eclipse to cross North America since 2017.
During a partial solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking out a fraction of the sunlight. This creates a crescent-shaped sun. Viewers in Detroit and Ann Arbor can expect 99% coverage, while viewers in Flint can expect 97%, which is near total.
Since it is unsafe to look directly at the sun, viewers will need special lenses to view the spectacle. Regular sunglasses, cameras, binoculars and even telescopes will not protect against eye injury, according to NASA.
Safety alert: Do not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, or binoculars while wearing eclipse glasses or using a solar viewer card because you can cause serious eye injuries.
To find safe solar viewers, solar filters for equipment, and eclipse glasses, ensure they comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun. Libraries across Metro Detroit will also host eclipse programs and glasses. Check here to find participating libraries. You can also make a pinhole projector to indirectly watch the eclipse.
The next solar eclipse North America can see won’t be until Aug. 23, 2044, so be sure to grab your eclipse glasses, friends, and family, and experience this wondrous phenomenon.
Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.