A solar eclipse is coming April 8. Here's what you need to know in RI and elsewhere.

A solar eclipse visible across a large swath of the United States will blot out the sun in northern New England and create a partial eclipse that will darken skies in Rhode Island on April 8.

Those planning to view the eclipse should take two steps — secure solar eclipse glasses and, if you want to see the total solar eclipse, make travel plans.

Looking directly at the sun, even when 90% of it is blocked, as it will be from Rhode Island that day, can damage your eyes, even though the damage may not be immediately detectable. The only safe way to look at the sun is through eclipse glasses, which blacken almost everything else.

But, be careful to get certified eclipse glasses, which meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. The American Astronomical Society has an online list of approved vendors, with links to their websites.

Those traveling to a state in the path of totality might face two challenges — lodging and traffic. Hotel rooms are probably already sold out, ridiculously expensive or both. And those who choose to drive should bear in mind that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, will have the same thought.

And, if it's cloudy the day of the eclipse, you may wind up watching it on TV or the internet like everyone outside the zone of totality.

What is a solar eclipse?

Every month, as part of the moon's orbit around the Earth, the moon passes on the same side of the Earth as the sun. Roughly two to four times a year, the three celestial bodies align so that the moon's shadow falls onto the surface of the earth, blocking out the sun's light. This is called a solar eclipse.

What's the difference between a total solar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse? And what's an annular eclipse?

When the alignment is perfect, the moon's shadow completely blocks the sun's light from reaching a narrow band of the Earth's surface. Locations within that band will see the circle of the sun go completely dark, which allows the glowing corona around it to become visible. Anywhere outside the narrow band of totality will see a partial eclipse, when the circle of the sun will appear anywhere from crescent-shaped to looking like a cookie with a bite taken out.

When a "total" eclipse happens while the moon is farthest from the earth in its orbit, its shadow is not big enough to block all of the sun, which appears as a fiery ring around the dark shape of the moon. This is called an annular eclipse.

What kind of eclipse will be visible from Rhode Island?

In April, observers in Rhode Island will see a partial solar eclipse.

Where and when will the partial eclipse be visible in Rhode Island?

From 2:15 to 4:38 p.m. April 8, the moon will partially cover the sun. This will be visible from all locations in Rhode Island. The maximum eclipse, when just more than 90% of the sun will be blocked, will be at 3:29 p.m.

Will observatories in Rhode Island host eclipse events?

Two prominent local observatories, the Ladd Observatory at Brown University in Providence and the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Charlestown, will be closed because their staff will be traveling — to Texas, Canada and points in between — to see the total eclipse.

"You don't need to be at a venue to enjoy an eclipse," said Scott MacNeill, director of the Frosty Drew Observatory. "You just need to be at a place where you can see the sun."

"It's so easy to see with the naked eye that there's no reason to look at it through a telescope," said David Targan, director of the Ladd Observatory, stressing that eclipse glasses are necessary during the partial eclipse.

"Even though most of the sun is covered by the moon, the piece of the sun that's still visible is just as intense as any other part of the sun," he said. "At no time is it safe to look at the sun. The sun is dangerously bright."

(Those in northern New England can remove their eclipse glasses during totality because they won't be looking at the sun, but need to put the glasses back on when the eclipse transitions back from total to partial.)

Where can Rhode Islanders see the total eclipse in April?

The total eclipse will be visible from 14 U.S. states — Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Also, the eclipse will start in Mexico and briefly cross into Canada as it makes its way from Vermont and New Hampshire to Maine.

Most of those states have information online detailing how to watch the eclipse there, including the states nearest Rhode Island — New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Remember that winter conditions, including snow, might still be present in northern New England on April 8.

And a word about notable mountains in northern New England: Mount Washington is outside the zone of totality and will only see a partial eclipse, just like Rhode Island.

Mount Katahdin, at the northern end of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, is right in the middle of the path of totality but closed to the public, and, being in the middle of a wilderness area, virtually inaccessible, even if it were open.

Mount Mansfield in Vermont is in the zone of totality, along with several other peaks, but winter-like weather conditions in April would make hiking difficult and pose hazards to the mountain's vulnerable ecology. "We advise visitors to avoid the backcountry during this event," the Green Mountain Club said, "as conditions are unpredictable and may be dangerous."

When is the next solar eclipse?

After this event, the next solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States will be in 20 years, on Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA. That one will be visible only in a few Western states along the Canadian border, but it will be followed in 2045 with one visible along a curving path from California to Florida.

When will Rhode Island next have a total solar eclipse?

Then, the United States will have to wait three more decades, when solar eclipses will be visible from the United States in consecutive years — 2078 and 2079, with the latter one beginning at sunrise on May 1 and the total eclipse visible in the cities of Philadelphia, New York and Boston, plus the entire states of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The center line of totality, along which the total eclipse lasts the longest, will pass through southern Rhode Island, including Westerly, South Kingstown, Saunderstown, Jamestown, Middletown, Portsmouth and Tiverton.

When did Rhode Island last have a total solar eclipse?

On Jan. 24, 1925, a cloudy morning gave way to clear skies as a total eclipse passed just south of Block Island and was visible in most of the state, except for a wedge in the northeast part of the state.

“Skies of brilliant sapphire, clear and cold, formed an exquisite setting over Rhode Island at 9:16 this morning, for the heavenly splendors of the total solar eclipse, most beautiful and awe-inspiring of celestial phenomena,” The Providence Journal's afternoon paper, The Evening Bulletin, reported that day. “The prophecy of Prof. Harold Jacoby of Columbia, that millions would derive ‘the kick of a lifetime’ from the sight, was fulfilled.”

How does weather affect an eclipse?

The weather on Earth does not change the relative movements of the sun, moon and Earth, so the eclipse will happen regardless of the weather.

But a cloudy day would block the view of the eclipse from any given place on the surface of the Earth, but, even where a partial eclipse would be seen, the sky should be noticeably darker.

The odds aren't in favor of a sunny day anywhere around here. "We're talking April in the Northeast," MacNeill said.

For what it's worth, The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts sunny skies in the northern third of New England and showers in the southern two-thirds.

Are you traveling to see the total solar eclipse?

If you're going out of state to view the total solar eclipse on April 8, The Providence Journal would like to hear from you. Please email reporter Paul Edward Parker at pparker@providencejournal.com to let us know where you will be headed.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Solar eclipse is coming to Rhode Island in April. Are you ready?