On Wednesday afternoon, residents of Newfoundland and Labrador had the opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. The spectacle began 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, with the moon obscuring around 50% of the sun’s surface in Newfoundland.
In St. John’s, the Johnson Geo Centre hosted a watch party where attendees observed the moon passing in front of the sun through special safety glasses from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The gathering, in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls, offered a unique viewing experience.
Astronomer Hiding Neilson from Memorial University shared his excitement at witnessing the moon gradually covering the sun through his telescope during the watch party. Neilson expressed admiration for the rare event, emphasizing that such partial eclipses occur only approximately every 50 years.
Ahead of the event, Andrea van Nostrand, the lead of education and interpretation at the Geo Centre, highlighted the activities arranged for children to safely view the eclipse without directly looking at the sun. She described the experience as “spectacular” and emphasized the importance of witnessing such a phenomenon with proper equipment.
Meanwhile, a total solar eclipse was visible across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Notably, two years ago, the total eclipse inspired Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye to travel to Spain to witness the event once again. They mentioned their anticipation for the experience, emphasizing the favorable weather conditions in Spain for such observations.
In Canada, regions further north and east, such as Alert, Nunavut, were expected to witness a more complete solar eclipse, with the sun projected to be 94% obscured. The event drew enthusiasts and spectators alike, eager to witness the celestial spectacle unfolding in the skies.