Partial solar eclipse could be visible in parts of Ontario and Canada

A partial solar eclipse could be visible in parts of Ontario and eastern Canada this weekend.

Around sunrise on Saturday, March 29, the sun, moon and Earth will nearly align, casting a shadow on the planet, according to Space.com.

Unlike the total solar eclipse experienced in parts of southern Ontario last year on April 8, the sun will remain visible with the moon casting a crescent-like shadow.

But it is still important to protect your eyes. During any solar eclipse, people must wear special glasses with filters designed for eclipse watching (ISO 12312-2 international standard) to prevent eye damage, the Canadian Space Agency warns. 

The best view of this eclipse could be in eastern Canada including Newfoundland, Labrador and Baffin Island where it will begin either at sunrise or just afterward, according to the Weather Network.

But parts of Ontario could see a smaller shadow over the sun.

“If you have an atlas of Canada and the United States, draw a line starting from a point near the city of Oakville, Ontario and extend it south, to Virginia Beach, Virginia. All places to the left (or west) of this line will have no view of any part of the eclipse,” Space.com said.

According to Time and Date, the eclipse could be visible around 5:30 a.m. and end around 7:30 a.m. in parts of Ontario. In Durham Region, the peak could be around 7 a.m. but only about three per cent of the sun will be in shadow. Further east, in Ottawa, nearly 30 per cent of the sun will be in shadow.

Like all celestial events, clear skies are needed for a good view.

As of Thursday, the weather forecast for the weekend is mainly cloudy across southern Ontario with a possible ice storm on the way.

Lead photo: Ashbel Rego