Partial Solar Eclipse Open House at Loines Observatory

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching our planet. During this partial solar eclipse, the Moon will pass across a portion of the Sun’s disk, creating the appearance that a small “bite” has been taken out of our nearest star.

From Nantucket, we will experience a partial eclipse, with approximately 16% of the Sun’s disk obscured at the peak of the event. While we are not located along the path of totality, even a small partial eclipse offers a fascinating opportunity to witness the motions of our solar system in real time.

The eclipse will begin at approximately 1:05pm reach maximum eclipse around 1:58pm and conclude at approximately 2:49pm.

Visitors are welcome to stop by Loines Observatory between 1pm and 3pm to safely view the eclipse through the Maria Mitchell Association’s solar viewing equipment, including our solar telescope and other approved solar viewing tools. Our astronomers and educators will be available to answer questions, share eclipse science, and help visitors better understand this unique celestial event.