Will I See The Total Solar Eclipse In Mission Viejo

MISSION VIEJO, CA—Excitement is building in Mission Viejo and across Orange County for the April 8 total solar eclipse. Though we’re not among the 32 million Americans living in the path of totality, we won't miss out on the celestial sensation.

The path of totality extends from Texas to Maine in the United States, but each of the 48 continental states will see some of the solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon slips between the sun, our bright star, and Earth.

In Orange County, the moon will cover about 51 percent of the sun at the peak of the eclipse, according to a NASA map that is searchable by ZIP code.

Here are the details

• Partial eclipse begins: 10:05 a.m.
• Eclipse totality begins: 10:35 a.m.
• Maximum totality reached: 11:12 a.m.
• Eclipse totality ends: 11:50 a.m.
• Partial eclipse ends: 12:23 p.m.

The eclipse will last 2 minutes and 18 seconds from beginning to end in Orange County.

Get your approved eclipse viewing glasses, and be sure not to look directly at the sun.

In South Orange County, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., OC Parks is planning a partial solar eclipse viewing party at Caspers Wilderness Park Nature Center, 33401 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano. The event is for all ages. Pre-registration is recommended, and a $5 parking fee will be enforced. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and anything else you might need to enjoy the show. Solar Telescopes will be available for viewing! Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

According to a spokesperson for the event,

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Right now, it looks like we could have partly sunny, mild weather for the big event.

The total solar eclipse starts in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as small parts of Tennessee and Michigan, before entering Canada in southern Ontario through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton before exiting continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

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