Today’s the day, Thunder Bay – the Moon is sliding across the Sun, giving us a partial solar eclipse right over the city. And since this is the last eclipse Canada will see until 2028, it’s worth knowing exactly what’s happening, when to look, and how to watch it safely.
When You Can See It in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay’s eclipse timing is:
- Start: 12:34 pm
- Maximum coverage: 1:16 p.m.
- End: 1:59 p.m.
You’ll see the Moon take a noticeable “bite” out of the Sun for more than an hour as it moves across the disk.
Why We Don’t Get Totality
While we get a partial eclipse here, totality – when the Moon completely blocks the Sun – is happening far from Canada.
Totality today is only visible in:
- The Arctic
- Eastern Greenland
- The western tip of Iceland
- The north Atlantic
- Northern Portugal and Spain
- The Balearic Sea
Canada misses the full blackout entirely. In fact, the next total solar eclipse that crosses Canada won’t happen until August 22, 2044.
How Much We’ll See
Thunder Bay gets a solid partial eclipse, but the biggest coverage in Canada happens in the northeast and Atlantic provinces. Only southwestern British Columbia misses out completely.
Even areas that only see a sliver of the Sun covered still get over an hour of the Moon slowly sliding across the Sun’s edge.
Safety First – Why You Can’t Look Up
You cannot look at a partial eclipse with the naked eye – not even for a second.
Here’s why:
- The Sun’s ultraviolet and infrared light can permanently damage your eyes instantly.
- There’s no pain reflex to warn you.
- Sunglasses don’t help.
- Clouds don’t help. Even thin cloud cover can make the Sun look dimmer, but it does nothing to block the dangerous light.
If you don’t have proper eclipse glasses, it’s honestly safer to stay indoors and watch a livestream.
How to Make a Safe Viewer With a Cereal Box
If you want a DIY option, you can make a simple pinhole projector with a cereal box:
- Cut a small square hole in one end of the box.
- Tape aluminum foil over the hole.
- Poke a tiny pinhole in the foil.
- Stand with your back to the Sun.
- Look inside the box – the eclipse will project onto the inside panel like a little movie screen.
It’s safe, easy, and perfect for kids and adults.
Learn how to make a safe viewer here: https://tinyurl.com/59tbaumu
If You Want to See Totality Anyway…
The European Space Agency is streaming the eclipse live from Spain, where skies are clear and the Sun will fully disappear behind the Moon. It’s the closest we’ll get to totality today.
Enjoy the Show, Thunder Bay
This is our last chance to see an eclipse until 2028, so whether you’re stepping outside with proper glasses or watching from indoors, today’s a rare cosmic moment worth catching.
