On Wednesday afternoon in Newfoundland and Labrador, a partial solar eclipse was visible to onlookers, depending on the weather conditions. The partial eclipse commenced at 1:37 AT (2:07 NT) in Churchill Falls and gradually unfolded across the province. The event concluded in St. John’s at 4:37 p.m. NT. Observers in Newfoundland anticipated the moon to obscure roughly 50 percent of the sun, varying slightly by location.
At the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, a watch party eagerly observed the moon’s slow passage in front of the sun, equipped with special safety glasses. The event, in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls, ran from 12 p.m. NT to 5 p.m.
Astronomer Hiding Neilson from Memorial University shared his excitement at witnessing the moon “eating the sun up” through a telescope. He expressed admiration for the rarity of the partial eclipse, occurring approximately every 50 years. Neilson emphasized the uniqueness of Earth’s solar eclipses compared to other planets in our solar system.
Andrea van Nostrand, the lead of education and interpretation at the Geo Centre, highlighted the spectacle of the event, emphasizing the importance of using proper viewing tools to protect the eyes. She described the experience as extraordinary, particularly when observing the moving shadow of the moon passing over the sun.
The total solar eclipse, visible across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, attracted enthusiasts like mother-daughter duo Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye, who traveled to Spain for the event. They appreciated the clear weather conditions in Spain for optimal viewing of the eclipse.
In Canada, regions further north and east, such as Alert, Nunavut, were expected to witness a more complete solar eclipse, with the sun expected to be 94 percent covered. This celestial event captured the attention of sky gazers and astronomy enthusiasts across the region.