Partial solar eclipse to grace the Strathmore sky

A solar eclipse will be happening on Monday, April 8, and you will be able to witness part of it in Strathmore.

According to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), as the moon aligns perfectly between the sun and Earth, temporary darkness will sweep across parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, causing a total solar eclipse.

Although the total eclipse won't be seen in Strathmore, Eclipse 2024 says that a partial eclipse will still happen, starting at 11:48 a.m., with the best time to view it at 12:43 p.m., and ending at 1:40 p.m.

In a partial eclipse, the sun isn't hidden in totality, but you can expect the sky to appear darker during the eclipse.

"In Canada, the solar eclipse path of totality will pass through some cities and towns in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, plunging into complete darkness for a few minutes," CSA said.

If you do choose to experience the solar eclipse, CSA warns of the dangers of looking at the sun without eye protection.

“Looking directly at the sun without appropriate protection can lead to serious problems such as partial or complete loss of eyesight,” it says on the CSA website.

According to CSA, regular sunglasses are not sufficient, and they recommend either purchasing glasses equipped with filters that are specially designed for eclipse-watching, or you can make your budget-friendly eclipse-watching projector, as provided in the example below.