On Wednesday afternoon, people in Newfoundland and Labrador had the opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse, depending on the weather conditions. The event began in Churchill Falls at 1:37 AT (2:07 NT) and gradually unfolded across the province, with the eclipse projected to end in St. John’s at 4:37 p.m. NT. Observers in Newfoundland anticipated the moon to obscure around 50% of the sun’s surface.
Spectators gathered at the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s to watch the rare celestial phenomenon, equipped with special safety viewing glasses. The watch party, held from 12 p.m. NT to 5 p.m., was organized in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls.
Astronomer Hiding Neilson from Memorial University shared his excitement at the event, observing the moon’s gradual passage in front of the sun through a telescope. Neilson expressed admiration for the uniqueness of solar eclipses in our solar system and noted the rarity of partial eclipses occurring only approximately every 50 years.
Ahead of the event, Andrea van Nostrand, lead of education and interpretation at the Geo Centre, highlighted the spectacular nature of the eclipse viewing experience, emphasizing the importance of using proper tools to observe the event safely. The eclipse was further visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal.
The awe-inspiring sight of a total solar eclipse two years prior led Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye to travel to Spain for another eclipse viewing experience. The duo expressed anticipation for the event and the unique opportunity to share the experience with fellow spectators. In Canada, regions further north and east were expected to witness a more complete solar eclipse, with Alert, Nunavut projected to have the best view in the country, with 94% of the sun covered.
To stay informed about CBC News in Newfoundland and Labrador, download the free CBC News app for push alerts and subscribe to the daily headlines newsletter.