Richmond County will be able to see a partial solar eclipse on Saturday, so long as the clouds stay away.
On Oct. 14, the moon will pass between the earth and the sun, creating a scenario in which the sun will cast a shadow of the moon onto the entire continental United States.
According to NASA, the path of totality — where the sun is completely blocked out — will traverse from Eugene, Oregon, to Corpus Christi, Texas.
NASA is forecasting Richmond County to see about 40% of the sun being covered by our closest celestial neighbor.
The solar eclipse is expected to last 2 hours and 54 minutes. The moon will begin its transit at 11:53 a.m. with the maximum coverage at 1:19 p.m. The sun will return to its full magnitude at about 2:47 p.m.
Protective eye equipment is strongly encouraged when viewing a solar eclipse for both the naked eye and cameras, including smartphone cameras.
NASA recommends specially made solar viewing glasses with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Sunglasses, no matter how dark, are discouraged.
If no solar viewing glasses are available, the American Astronomical Society has non-direct viewing solutions, including the pinhole projection in which using a pasta colander with the sun casting light through its holes onto the ground. Other household items with small holes will also create the eclipse projection.
This is the first major solar eclipse for Richmond County since Aug. 27, 2017 when the Sandhills area was able to see more than 90% of the sun being covered. The next one is set for April 2024.
Click here to read about the 2017 eclipse.
The forecast is currently calling for cloudy conditions on Saturday with a 50% chance of rain for the morning. Sky visibility is expected to clear up near time for the eclipse.
