Partial Solar Eclipse

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in West Tennessee Thursday afternoon, October 23rd from 4:50 until the sun sets a little after 6 o'clock. The only condition preventing us from getting a clear view will be potential cloud cover. VIPIRCast shows us mostly to partly cloudy at 5. However, the clouds will likely be high and thin and shouldn't completely obscure our view.

The maximum eclipse will take place at 5:52 in Jackson Thursday afternoon at which point 32.5% of the sun will be hidden behind the moon. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in between the earth and the sun during the moon's orbit around the earth. Tomorrow, the eclipse will not be complete because the geometrical orientation of these bodies will not allow the sun to be fully covered by the moon. Even in the optimal position on the globe for viewing, which will be in Canada's Nunavut Territory near Prince of Wales Island, only 75% of the sun will be covered.

WARNING! Viewing a solar eclipse without proper equipment can cause permanent damage to your eyes! Never attempt to look directly at the sun. Sunglasses are NOT safe way to view this eclipse or any solar eclipse for that matter!

There are a few ways you can look at the solar eclipse without causing damage to your eyes. Unless you're using a special filter on a telescope, I wouldn't recommend even trying to use those or binoculars. The easiest way and possibly the safest way to view the solar eclipse is shown here in this very educational video from Space.com.

Hopefully the skies will cooperate tomorrow for us, and if you can't get a safe way to view the eclipse in time, don't worry! We'll be posting images on Facebook, Twitter, and will take a live look at it on WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News at 5 and 5:30!