Mother Nature Stages Spectacle August 21st

Later this month, Mother Nature will stage a spectacle that dwarfs any Hollywood blockbuster.  On August 21st, for the first time in decades, the moon’s shadow is set to sweep across North America plunging entire cities and towns into an eerie midday darkness. 

Although the track of the total eclipse does not enter Canada, Northumberland County will see more than three-quarters of the sun obscured by the moon during its peak. 

The event will unfold over a roughly two-and-half-hour window.  Starting at 1:10 p.m., the mid-eclipse will occur at 2:35 p.m. and will end at 3:49 p.m. 

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun.