Where to watch the eclipse in Rhode Island: Newport County is in on the action
Wondering where to see the solar eclipse on April 8? While it will be visible across a large swath of the United States, in Rhode Island, only a partial eclipse will darken skies that day.
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.
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.
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."
Eclipse viewing events in Newport County and RI
• Channing Church is hosting a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party from 2-4 p.m. on Monday. All are invited to watch this amazing event together from the church grounds and/or across the street at Touro Park. Guests are welcome to Please feel free to bring moon and sun-themed snacks and beverages (like moon pies, sun chips, starburst, Sunkist soda, etc.) to share and wear your best moon and sun-inspired clothing.
This event is open to the entire community, you do not have to be a member of Channing to attend. All are welcome here.
Eclipse glasses will not be provided.
• Brownell Library in Little Compton will host an Eclipse Viewing on April 8 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., with activities for all ages.
• Tiverton Library is hosting The Great Eclipse Get-Together on April 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. The official NASA broadcast will be on the big screen for safe sun viewing. Borrow a pair of solar eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector if you wish to view the event outside. Light eclipse-themed refreshments will be served. All ages are welcome.
• The Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park will host a free family-friendly watch party for the partial solar eclipse. Each family visiting on April 8 will receive a free pair of eclipse viewing glasses, provided by the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium. This free community event includes free admission to the museum on Monday, April 8.
• Sonic Drive-In announced a special eclipse-themed menu item to give fans an “out-of-this-world experience,” according to a news release. The new Blackout Slush Float is available now for a limited time. What's in it? The Blackout is a sweet, cotton candy and dragon fruit flavored, all-black slush representing the temporary darkness from the solar eclipse and topped with creamy white soft serve and blue and purple galaxy-themed sprinkles. There are Sonic locations in Warwick and Smithfield, as well as Somerset, Massachusetts.
When will Rhode Island towns have the best view of the partial eclipse?
In Rhode Island, the best views will be in the northern part of the state, but this website shows the timing for each town in Rhode Island. Here's when the eclipse will start and the magnitude for a handful of Rhode Island locations:
Middletown: 2:25:22 p.m., 90.0%
Newport: 2:15:17 p.m., 90.%
Portsmouth, 2:25:27 p.m., 91.9%
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Also, USATODAY offers a special tool to show you what the eclipse will look like in your zip code.
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.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Where to watch the solar eclipse in Newport County, RI on April 8
