Detroit and most of the continental United States could be in for a stunning sunset tonight, as a partial solar eclipse takes place in the middle of rush hour.
A partial eclipse occurs when the moon blocks part of the sun from view. The sun then appears to have a dark shadow on a small part of its surface. As NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak describes it, “The new moon is going to take a bite out of the sun.”
Here in southeast Michigan, the eclipse is expected to begin at 5:40 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 6:31 p.m.
For those of you headed westbound after work tonight, this oughta make your commute a little more bearable.
For some pro tips on viewing a solar eclipse, go to nasa.gov.
And for more information on tonight’s eclipse, check out timeanddate.com.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2014.
