Solar Eclipse: The Moon Covers the Sun at Midday Today

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Today’s solar eclipse is the first total eclipse visible in the United States in 38 years according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The last total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. was in 1991.  The path of this eclipse runs from Lincoln beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina.  In San Angelo the eclipse will be about 66 percent.  

NASA says this solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours, from beginning to end, as viewed from a given location.

For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds.  The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979.

In San Angelo, the The San Angelo Astronomy Association is holding a watch party from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Foster Field, University Avenue at Knickerbocker Rd.  They will have a limited number of solar viewing glasses and telescopes with filters.  

Scientists warn not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse because permanent eye damage can occur even total blindness is possible.  

The next solar eclipse visible in the United States will be on April 8, 2024.