At its maximum, the eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, will obscure about three-quarters of the sun over the Bay Area.
The solar eclipse is of the annular type, called “the ring of fire” because the moon doesn’t completely obscure the sun. Even along the path of maximum darkness, a bright edge will remain visible.
Some details of the event:
How much of the sun will be covered in the Bay Area?
The obscuration — the percentage of the sun’s area that will be covered — will be about 77% in the Bay Area. The magnitude, indicating the fraction of the sun’s diameter that is covered, will be about 0.8. The Bay Area won’t get the “ring of fire” effect but instead will see the sun reduced to a crescent. The website TimeAndDate has video simulations of the eclipse; select a city, then click the video play icon.
How long will it last?
The moon will start crossing in front of the sun around 8 a.m. Saturday, and maximum obscuration will be around 9:20 a.m. The event will end around 10:40 a.m.
Will there be good viewing?
Saturday morning’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies in much of the Bay Area.
Do I need special equipment to view it?
Yes! Never look at the sun without proper eye protection, such as glasses specifically meant for viewing eclipses. Sunglasses or smoked glass is not adequate. You can also make a pinhole viewing device that allows you to follow the progress without looking at the sky.
Are there events in the Bay Area where I can view it with experts?
Yes. Among them:
- San Jose Astronomical Association at San Jose’s Houge Park
- Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford; register for free tickets here.
- Lawrence Berkeley Hall of Science
- Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland
- Exploratorium, San Francisco
What U.S. cities will see the greatest obscuration?
In a narrow band extending from Oregon to Texas, the obscuration will reach its maximum of 90%. Among the cities that will have 89% obscuration are Eugene, Ore.; Alturas, Calif.; and Winnemucca, Nev. This online tool lets you find times and obscuration for any place in the United States.
How does it compare with the big solar eclipse a few years ago?
The eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017, had a path of totality across the United States. In the Bay Area, it was around 75%.
