Total Solar Eclipse: How Much We’ll See In Arlington, When To See It

ARLINGTON, VA — Excitement is building in Arlington for the April 8 total solar eclipse. We’re not among some 32 million Americans living in the path of totality, but neither will we miss out on the celestial sensation.

In the United States, the path of totality extends from Texas to Maine, but each of the 48 continental states will see some of the solar eclipse, which occurs when the moon slips between our bright star and Earth. In Arlington, the moon will cover about 87.7 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: 2:04 p.m
• Maximum: 3:20 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:32 p.m.

The eclipse will last 2 hours and 28 minutes from beginning to end in Arlington.

Rosslyn BID is hosting a solar eclipse viewing event from 2-4 p.m. at Gateway Park, which is located at 1300 Langston Blvd. The viewing is courtesy of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club.

Right now, it looks like we could have partly cloudy skies for the big event, according to NASA's forecast.

• Related: You Must Protect Your Eyes, Regardless Of Eclipse Totality: What You Need

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.

• Related: Animals May Behave Oddly During Eclipse