Parts of Canada will see a total solar eclipse Monday, but those on Vancouver Island will only see a small part of it.
A solar eclipse is when the moon crosses the sun’s path, completely blocking it from the earth.
According to the Centre of the Universe Observatory in Saanich, unlike the eclipse in 2017 when the Island saw 90 per cent coverage, this totality path is on the other side of the country.
Dennis Crabtree, with the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, told CHEK News this year’s totality path goes from Mazatlán, Mexico, through Texas and the U.S.A.’s Midwest.
“Then it curves through south of Toronto and south of Montreal, New Brunswick and then off on Newfoundland,” Crabtree explained.
He added this makes the sight of the eclipse less exciting on the west coast.
“For us in Victoria, only about 28 per cent coverage of the sun by the moon, but still a cool event to see,” he said.
There are still a number of events planned across the Island for people to watch the partial eclipse.
The Centre of the Universe Observatory will be hosting a live viewing with eclipse glasses and telescopes with sun filters on them from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday.
The observatory will also be live-streaming the total eclipse in the Black Hole Auditorium.
In Nanaimo, the Nanaimo Astronomy Society will be set up at Piper’s Lagoon.
Crabtree said it is very important for those watching the eclipse to avoid looking directly at the sun, even with sunglasses on, as this can damage their eyes.
“You wouldn’t look directly at the sun normally, and that applies during the eclipse. You don’t look at the sun,” Crabtree said.
He added while you would be able to look directly at an eclipse with the naked eye during the full totality moment, the Island won’t be getting one of those moments.
“Since it’s not total, don’t look at the sun directly unless you have eclipse glasses,” said Crabtree.
He said you can also use a pin camera or a homemade one with cardboard with a small hole in it to watch the shadow of the eclipse.
Both School Districts 61 and 63 have sent letters to families stating students will be kept inside with the blinds closed during the event adding classrooms can live stream the total eclipse from the east coast.
In Victoria, the partial eclipse is expected to start around 10:40 a.m., with peak coverage at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Crabtree said he hopes the weather will cooperate for easy viewing.
“If it’s cloudy and rainy you might not even notice anything happening,” he said. “It will get a little darker, but it’s just the same as just the clouds being a little thicker.”
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