PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Every few years, a solar eclipse occurs somewhere on the globe as the moon’s orbit around the Earth aligns just right with the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Fortunately, the 2024 solar eclipse passed over the majority of the United States.
Across Hampton Roads, if you missed the phenomena I don’t blame you. Because you wouldn’t have noticed a thing unless you had the proper solar eclipse glasses and stared at the sun and the moon.
In our neck of the woods, about 78% of the sun was blocked by the moon at 3:20 p.m. So locally, that’s a partial solar eclipse. The total solar eclipse was to our west, across Texas, through the Midwest and up into the Great Lakes region.
The moon must block 100% of the sun to experience the full effect, which was the case under the path of totality, when it turned totally dark in the middle of the afternoon.
A partial solar eclipse, like here at home, is only visible with the proper solar eclipse glasses.
Another cool way to experience a partial eclipse is to catch the silhouette of the phenomena through the shadows of leafy trees. So instead of looking up, look down!
The next partial eclipse for parts of the United States is 2033 in Alaska and 2044 for the lower 48 states. Hampton Roads will in fact experience a total eclipse, but not until 2078 and 2099.
Read more of WAVY’s eclipse team coverage here.
