People in Newfoundland and Labrador had the opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday afternoon, depending on the weather conditions. The partial eclipse began at 1:37 PM AT (2:07 PM NT) in Churchill Falls, with the phenomenon gradually spreading across the province throughout the afternoon. The eclipse is expected to conclude in St. John’s at 4:37 PM NT, with the moon covering approximately 50% of the sun in Newfoundland.
At the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, a group of enthusiasts gathered to observe the moon passing in front of the sun with the aid of special safety viewing glasses. The event, which took place from 12 PM NT to 5 PM, was organized in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls.
Memorial University’s astronomer, Hiding Neilson, described the eclipse as a fascinating sight, mentioning how rare it is to witness a partial eclipse, which occurs only about every 50 years. Neilson emphasized the uniqueness of Earth in having solar eclipses compared to other planets in our solar system.
Ahead of the event, Andrea van Nostrand from the Geo Centre anticipated the excitement of the viewers, especially children engaging in creating solar viewing tools to safely observe the eclipse. The spectacle of the moon moving across the sun, as seen through protective glasses, was described as impressive and phenomenal.
While a total solar eclipse was visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, some enthusiasts like Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye traveled to Spain to witness the event due to favorable weather conditions and personal connections.
In Canada, regions farther north and east, such as Alert, Nunavut, were expected to experience a more complete solar eclipse, with the sun predicted to be 94% covered. The event drew excitement and awe from spectators, highlighting the beauty and rarity of such celestial occurrences.