Mainers have a rare celestial event to look forward to this week. On Wednesday, August 12, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the state around midday. While Maine remains outside the path of totality, skywatchers will see a noticeable portion of the sun obscured by the moon.
In the Bangor area, the eclipse will unfold between 12:54 p.m. and 2:49 p.m., with peak coverage occurring at 1:53 p.m. At this point, roughly 23.6% of the sun will be blocked. Coverage will vary slightly by geography, with northern and eastern locations like Caribou seeing up to 25% of the solar disk obscured, while Portland will see closer to 21%.
Those interested in safe viewing can head to the University of Maine’s Versant Power Astronomy Center. The facility is hosting a public viewing event at the Historic Clark Telescope Observatory from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Staff will offer solar filter glasses for purchase and provide access to telescopes, which allow for a magnified look at the sun and potential sunspots.
Safety is the primary concern for any solar event. Looking directly at the sun without specialized, certified eye protection can cause permanent eye damage. Ordinary sunglasses provide no protection. If you plan to view the eclipse at home, you must use proper solar eclipse glasses or an indirect viewing method, such as projecting the light through a pinhole in a piece of paper.
This event is particularly noteworthy given the long gap before the next similar occurrence. Maine will not see another partial solar eclipse until 2045, and a total solar eclipse will not cross the state until 2079. If the weather holds, this provides a clear opportunity for residents to witness a significant astronomical event without traveling abroad.