It may not be a total solar eclipse, but the partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025, will bring some very unusual views of the sun and moon to some observers in North America.
Seen as a run-of-the-mill partial solar eclipse in mainland Europe (where about a third of the sun will disappear behind the moon with the two high in the sky in mid-morning), the event is a little more fraught in North America, where it will happen at sunrise.
It will also create a weird "double sunrise" effect from some locations in the U.S. state of Maine and the provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec in Canada.
Understanding the eclipse map
NASA's map of this eclipse can be hard to understand. It shows the full extent of the moon's shadow from northeastern North America to Europe, northern Russia and northwestern Africa. The orange line on the left shows the sunrise and sunset lines. From the sunrise line on the left, places including Niagara Falls, Washington D.C. and Virginia Beach will see about a 1% eclipse at sunrise. This is where the eclipse ends at sunrise. On the right is another orange line — dissecting Newfoundland, Canada — which marks where the eclipse begins at sunrise.
Between the two is a blue line — and that's where eclipse chasers will gather. It denotes precisely where the maximum eclipse occurs at sunrise or sunset. This is where you can see the most eclipse at sunrise. It dissects Quebec, goes through southwestern New Brunswick and clips northern Maine.
Where to see an eclipsed sunrise
There are plenty of locations between the "ends at sunrise" and "maximizes at sunrise" lines to watch some kind of eclipsed sunrise, with New York seeing a 21% eclipse and Boston about 43%, though, for such a sight, a clear ocean horizon is advised. Even then, clear weather on the horizon will be required. The entire thing could so easily be a bust — but for eclipse chasers, it's a rare opportunity to see something rare.
From the east coast of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, a big eclipsed sunrise will be seen, with a crescent sun rising vertically out of the ocean from coastal locations. However, from coastal locations in northern Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec, it may be possible to see "devil's horns" as the sun rises while eclipsed, its cusps rising separately to create the illusion of a "double sunrise." The sun will be about 80-90% eclipsed from Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec.
How to check out a location in advance
It's vitally important to research what can be seen from any specific location — clear skies allowing — because, as well as an ocean horizon, you'll need a clear sightline to the sun. Useful resources include Xavier Jubier's interactive Google Map of the eclipse, which has built-in sightlines from Peak Finder. The Photographer's Ephemeris is also helpful in calculating sightlines to the sunrise, while Timeanddate.com's map of the eclipse is useful both for its eclipse schedule and for its simulations of exactly what the observer will see.
Remember, NEVER look at the sun without proper eye protection and never use regular sunglasses to observe the sun. It is never safe to look directly at the sun's rays, even if the sun is partly obscured, because they contain harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays that can damage your eye's retina and even cause blindness. The only safe way to look directly at the sun is through specifically designed solar filters, using solar eclipse glasses for direct viewing and solar filters for telescopes and binoculars.
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