On Wednesday afternoon in Newfoundland and Labrador, residents had the opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse, depending on the weather conditions. The eclipse began in Churchill Falls at 1:37 AT (2:07 NT) and gradually became visible across the province, ending in St. John’s at 4:37 p.m. NT. The eclipse in Newfoundland was expected to cover about 50% of the sun, varying slightly by location.
At the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, a group of enthusiasts gathered to observe the moon passing in front of the sun using special safety glasses. The watch party, in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls, took place from 12 p.m. NT to 5 p.m.
Astronomer Hiding Neilson from Memorial University described the event as the moon “eating the sun up” through his telescope. Neilson expressed his wonder at the unique occurrence, emphasizing that solar eclipses are a rare phenomenon, with a partial eclipse like this one repeating only approximately every 50 years.
Andrea van Nostrand, the lead of education and interpretation at the Geo Centre, highlighted the excitement surrounding the event, emphasizing the spectacular nature of watching an object move across the sun with proper viewing tools. Meanwhile, a total solar eclipse was set to be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal.
The experience of witnessing a total solar eclipse previously led Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye to travel to Spain to view the event once again. The duo expressed their anticipation for the event and the unique experience of sharing it with others. In Canada, locations farther north and east, such as Alert, Nunavut, were expected to have a more complete view of the solar eclipse, with the sun being 94% covered.
The rare and fascinating event drew in enthusiasts and spectators alike, offering a moment of wonder and awe at the celestial display.