Hoping to see Saturday’s solar eclipse in Seattle?
All you need is an alarm clock and eclipse glasses—and hopefully clear skies. This weekend’s eclipse is called an annular or “ring of fire” solar eclipse. The moon will pass between the Earth and the sun on Saturday morning, but since it won’t fully cover the sun we will see a “ring of fire” effect during the main segment of the eclipse. Read on for all the details that you need to be able to safely watch the solar eclipse this Saturday in Seattle!
When will the eclipse happen?
The eclipse will occur on the morning of Saturday, October 14, 2023. It should start around 8:10 a.m. PST here in Washington State, so set your alarm. The event will take about two hours total but the full eclipse could last for up to five minutes.
How much of the eclipse will we see in Seattle?
Although Seattle isn’t within the direct path, we will still be able to see a good portion of the eclipse. In fact, you can expect to see about 81% of the sun blocked by the moon in Washington State, according to NASA.
How can I safely watch the eclipse?
Don’t look directly at the sun at any point during the eclipse. Looking at the sun with bare eyes can cause permanent eye damage. Even sunglasses won’t be enough protection. Instead, your best bet is to use special eclipse glasses. You can get free eclipse glasses from any of the 27 locations of the Seattle Public Library. They’re first-come, first-served and must be picked up in-person.
If you can’t get your hands on eclipse glasses, you can also use a DIY pinhole projector, a handheld solar viewer, or a camera/binoculars/telescope if it has the correct solar filter.
When is the next solar eclipse?
This particular “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse won’t happen again until 2046! There will be a total solar eclipse crossing over North America on April 8, 2024.