Solar Eclipse 2017 In Maryland: When, Where And How To See It

BALTIMORE, MD — For the first time in nearly a century, a total solar eclipse will be visible across North America, with great viewing spots right here in Maryland. The once-in-a-lifetime event will take place on Monday, Aug. 21, according to NASA. Maryland will have partial coverage, with about 80 percent of the sun covered during the event, the first total solar eclipse visible across the U.S. since 1918.

On the East Coast, the eclipse will start shortly after 1 p.m. and reach totality just before 3 p.m. But Marylanders might have trouble seeing the full impact of the eclipse. The National Weather Service forecasts a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 88.

South Carolina and Nashville are in the path of the totality, if you want to make the trek. The total eclipse viewing corridor will stretch across 14 states, according to NASA. The first sighting in the U.S. on Aug. 21 will be in Lincoln Beach, Oregon, at 9:05 a.m. PDT (12:05 p.m. EST) and will last be seen in Charleston, South Carolina, at 4:05 p.m.

If you can’t travel to a location for the viewing, you can see NASA’s live stream of the eclipse here. (SIGN UP: Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

RELATED: Get Your NASA-Approved Solar Eclipse Glasses Before It's Too Late

When to watch solar eclipse in Maryland

While everyone in the U.S. will see at least a partial solar eclipse, the 70-mile wide total eclipse corridor is within driving distance, says the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The path of the Great American Eclipse through the region will clip the mountains of North Carolina before it cuts its trajectory through the Upstate of South Carolina, Columbia, then the coast.

While weather most of this week will be cloudy and rain, the early prediction by the National Weather Service is that Maryland skies will clear by Saturday and stay that way through Monday, setting up perfect views of the eclipse.

The exact times for this eclipse may vary within a few minutes depending on location, according to Maryland Geological Survey Director Richard Ortt. The eclipse will occur over Maryland at these times:
Western Maryland (Garrett County):
– First Contact: 1:12 p.m.
– Mid-eclipse: 2:38 p.m. (peak obscuring of the sun)
– Last Contact: 3:57 p.m.
Central Maryland (Annapolis, Baltimore):
– First Contact: 1:18 p.m.
– Mid-eclipse: 2:43 p.m. (peak obscuring of the sun)
– Last Contact: 4:02 p.m.
Coastal Maryland (Assateague, Ocean City):
– First Contact: 1:22 p.m.
– Mid-eclipse: 2:47 p.m. (peak obscuring of the sun)
– Last Contact: 4:05 p.m.

Places to watch in Maryland:

• Maryland Science Center's Observatory in Baltimore will hold a viewing party August 21 from noon to 4 p.m. It is free to attend with paid admission to the science center. MSC staff will be on the center's rooftop to safely observe the moon blocking as much as 80 percent of the sun. Safe solar views and sun themed activities are planned. In case of inclement weather, select activities will move indoors)
• The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC plans to be online live from the Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory on Aug. 21 answering FAQs about eclipses. More details have yet to be released.

The Maryland Park Service is offering various events around the state, including:

• Assateague State Park will host an exhibit at the Nature Nook to include information and viewing glasses for lending use.
• The Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park will monitor temperature, bird song and species shifting. The center will also have viewing glasses on hand.
• New Germany State Park will have glasses on hand along and host a guided discussion.
• North Point State Park offers visitors a short hike through the Black Marsh Wildlands and stunning views of the eclipse on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Preregistration is required by emailing andrea.townsley-sapp@maryland.gov.
• Tuckahoe State Park will hold a free solar eclipse party at the ballfield in the Cherry Lane Campground area from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event will include themed crafts, music, snacks and a limited supply of viewing glasses.

Patch will update this with more events as they're announced.

Watch this NASA video illustrating how an eclipse works:

You can also use this interactive Google map to find the spot of the longest eclipse. And an interactive map with additional events throughout the U.S. is found here.

Will you be traveling to see the total eclipse? If so, where are you headed? Let us know in the comment section.

Solar eclipse viewing tips

The only safe way to look directly at the partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers, DNR officials said. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not provide adequate protection. Viewers must be sure the glasses they use are CE and ISO certified for direct sun viewing.

“For anyone who wishes to view the eclipse, safety precautions must be taken to prevent the sun’s harmful rays from causing severe eye damage,” Ortt said.

Looking directly at the sun is unsafe, and the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special “eclipse glasses” with solar filters, warns NASA, which offers these tips: