Excitement filled the skies of Newfoundland and Labrador as residents witnessed a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday afternoon. Churchill Falls had the first glimpse at 1:37 AT (2:07 NT), with the eclipse gradually spreading across the province. The event concluded in St. John’s at 4:37 p.m. NT, with the moon obscuring around 50% of the sun in Newfoundland.
At the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, a watch party, in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and STEM Girls, provided a safe viewing experience for spectators. Astronomer Hiding Neilson from Memorial University expressed awe at seeing the moon gradually cover the sun through his telescope. He highlighted the rarity of the partial eclipse, which occurs approximately every 50 years.
Andrea van Nostrand, the lead of education and interpretation at the Geo Centre, described the eclipse as “pretty spectacular,” emphasizing the importance of using solar viewing tools to protect eyes while observing the event. Meanwhile, a total solar eclipse was visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal.
For some eclipse enthusiasts like Jennifer Waye and Gabriela Fuentes Waye, witnessing the total eclipse two years ago inspired them to travel to Spain for another unique experience. In Canada, regions further north and east, like Alert, Nunavut, had a more complete view of the eclipse, with the sun expected to be 94% covered.
The event drew both amateur and seasoned astronomers, along with curious onlookers, all marveling at the celestial phenomenon unfolding before their eyes.