Michigan skywatchers could see a solar eclipse this week, though you may not be impressed with how much of the eclipse you can see.
The solar eclipse will occur early Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12, with 3% coverage expected in Detroit and 7% in Sault Ste. Marie; the sun will barely dim, according to NASA and Michigan State University.
If you choose to watch the eclipse, be sure to wear a pair of eclipse glasses to safely view the sun. You can also opt for streaming NASA’s live eclipse programming online.
A total solar eclipse usually only happens about once every 18 months, according to Time and Date. The last total solar eclipse was on April 8, 2024.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming solar eclipse.
When is the solar eclipse?
The solar eclipse will occur the afternoon of Aug. 12, appearing as a partial eclipse in Michigan, according to NASA. Michigan will only see a small portion of the sun covered by the moon during the eclipse.
The eclipse will appear partial in other parts of the northern U.S., most of Canada, Europe and northwestern Africa, NASA said. The eclipse will be a total solar eclipse in Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a small part of Portugal.
Do you need any special equipment to view the partial solar eclipse?
Yes! People who wish to see the partial solar eclipse should never look at the sun with the naked eye and should use eclipse glasses, which are different from typical sunglasses, to view the sun during the celestial event, according to NASA.
The only time it is safe to look at the sun during a solar eclipse is during totality, which will not occur in the U.S., according to NASA.
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How visible will the eclipse be in Michigan?
Detroit:
Lansing:
Grand Rapids:
Marquette:
Alpena:
How can you watch the solar eclipse?
NASA will host a live broadcast of the eclipse beginning at 1:15 p.m. ET on Aug. 12 on Amazon Prime, Facebook, Instagram, NASA+, Twitch, X and YouTube.
When is the next solar eclipse?
There will be an annular solar eclipse on Feb. 6, 2027.
Detroit Free Press reporter Jalen Williams and USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A solar eclipse is on the way. How much will you see in Michigan?
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Jalen Williams and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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By Jenna Prestininzi, Jalen Williams and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
