Get your eye safety gear ready and look heavenward on Monday, April 8, when a partial solar eclipse will pass over Wellesley, and our area will experience 92.6% totality. Other areas of New England, such as parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, will experience a total eclipse. In the continental US, 13 states in all are included along the narrow path of totality.
The last time Wellesley experienced an eclipse was in on August 21, 2017, when the moon obscured 63.6% of the sun. We were there for on-scene reporting. Check it out.
Jonathan Kemp, manager of the Whitin Observatory at Wellesley College explains, “A solar eclipse happens when the earth passes through the moon’s shadow. Effectively, the moon is passing between the sun and the earth and the moon is blocking the sun’s light from reaching the earth.”
Kemp has set up a website with plenty of eclipse information on local events, safety, viewing tips, internet events, and more.
Wellesley’s eclipse schedule
- 2:16pm—moon begins to partially cover the sun
- 3:29pm—partial eclipse peaks
- 4:39pm—partial phase of the eclipse ends
Although the eclipse will happen shortly after the school day ends, the Wellesley Public Schools will keep to its regular schedule. Superintendent David Lussier concedes that the eclipse presents a challenge “as it will reach its peak shortly after school dismissal” preventing the school community from experiencing the eclipse together.
Where NOT to watch the eclipse in Wellesley
- Wellesley’s athletic fields, as spring sports are in full swing and students will be practicing or competing that day
- Wellesley College—Whitin Observatory will be open to the Wellesley College community only, and the college isn’t hosting any public events for the eclipse.
Where to watch the eclipse in Wellesley
- If you are part of the school community, check with your individual PTO. Some are hosting after-school events
- Wellesley Free Library is hosting a free viewing event that begins at 2pm
- Wellesley Public Media will cablecast the solar eclipse live Monday, April 8, beginning at 3:15pm on Comcast 9/Verizon 39. You will not need protective lenses to view the TV cablecast.
- Wherever you happen to be at that time, as long as you have safety glasses. Do not watch the eclipse without them.
Keep it safe, save your vision
- Never look at an eclipse, or the sun, with the naked eye.
- Do not use binoculars to look at the eclipse or the sun.
- A telescope is only safe to use if it has a specially designed safety filter.
- Looking at the sun even momentarily can cause severe and permanent eye injury.
- Sunglasses are not safe for viewing an eclipse.
- More here on eclipse viewing safety
Free safety glasses
- Get FREE eclipse viewing glasses at the Health Department, 90 Washington St. (Warren Building), during business hours, while supplies last, through April 8.
- HEADS UP: As of Thursday, April 4, the Health Department is temporarily out of glasses.
- THERE IS HOPE: The Health Department says more glasses will be available Friday, April 5.
What if I take a nap and miss the eclipse?
- The next total solar eclipse broadly visible from much of the continental United States will be August 12, 2045, although it will only be a partial solar eclipse for Wellesley.
- The next total solar eclipse happening in the skies above Wellesley will be May 1, 2079.
