Wisconsin residents will have a chance to catch a partial glimpse of a solar eclipse Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12 – if the clouds cooperate, that is.

While the best eclipse viewing will be in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, Russia and Spain, according to NASA, residents in 26 U.S. states will be able to see a portion of the eclipse, USA TODAY reported.

Here’s what to know about the eclipse in Wisconsin, including when it’s happening and tips for viewing it safely.

When is the eclipse? 

In Milwaukee, the partial solar eclipse will start at 12:04 p.m. and last for about 44 minutes before ending at 12:47 p.m. The eclipse will peak at 12:26 p.m. 

The eclipse will begin slightly earlier or later in other parts of Wisconsin. For example, Green Bay residents can start to see a partial eclipse at 11:53 a.m., according to Time and Date.

How much of the sun will be covered in Wisconsin? 

Only a small sliver of the sun will be missing in Wisconsin this afternoon. 

Wisconsin residents, no matter where they live in the state, won’t see more than 5% of the sun blocked during the event. The eclipse tops out at about 4% coverage in northern parts of the state. In Green Bay, about 2.4% will be obstructed, while Milwaukee residents will see less than 1% blocked.

The sun may also be covered behind clouds. Time and Date estimates between 40% and 60% cloud coverage for most of the state, while the National Weather Service forecasts partly sunny weather, with some storms, for most areas in line with the eclipse.

Where is the path of totality for the Aug. 12 eclipse? 

The eclipse will only be visible in the Eastern Hemisphere, with Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and Portugal all within the path of totality. People in other parts of Europe, Africa and North America will be able to see a partial eclipse. 

How can I view the eclipse? 

The sun won’t be covered enough for Wisconsin residents to look straight at it, but there are still a few ways to peek at the eclipse. One option is to make a homemade pinhole projector with a cereal box, aluminum foil, a sheet of paper, a pushpin, and some tape. 

Importantly, do not try looking at the sun with sunglasses on – even those within the path of totality are instructed to avoid that. Eclipse glasses are specially designed for solar viewing. Camera lenses, telescopes, and binoculars are also off limits because they concentrate the sun’s rays and can pose a risk to your eyes.

When is the next total solar eclipse coming to Wisconsin? 

It’s going to be a while before Wisconsin residents are in the path of totality for a solar eclipse: the next one is Sept. 14, 2099, according to NASA.

But in the meantime, several other solar eclipses will have paths of totality across other parts of the United States, including March 30, 2033, Aug. 23, 2044, and Aug. 12, 2045.

Lance Schulteis can be reached at LSchulteis@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A partial solar eclipse crosses Wisconsin today. Here’s when to look up

Reporting by Lance Schulteis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

By Lance Schulteis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network