The first total eclipse of the sun visible from the contiguous United States since 1979 will start shortly after 9:00 this morning. Here in the Morongo Basin, we’ll only see a partial solar eclipse. The last time a total eclipse was visible from coast to coast was on June 8, 1918. The partial solar eclipse will be visible in our Morongo Basin starting at 9:04, the moon will travel between the Earth and the sun, and cast its shadow on the earth. In the Morongo Basin, 64 percent of the sun will be eclipsed. The maximum eclipse will be at 10:26 a.m., and the eclipse will end at 11:50.
Sky’s the Limit Observatory on Utah Trail in Twentynine Palms will hold an eclipse-watching event, complete with solar viewing glasses, starting at 9:45. And the Andromeda Society will hold a solar eclipse party at the Yucca Valley Community Center, behind the museum, starting about 9 a.m. Both events will have solar eclipse viewing glasses, telescopes, and binoculars. Later tonight, a lunar drumming circle will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center, near the picnic tables behind the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.
Never look directly into the sun, even with sunglasses, or through a cell phone, telephoto lens, binoculars, or a telescope.
For instructions on how to watch a solar eclipse using a pinhole projector, visit:
http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html
