The upcoming solar eclipse on April 8th continues to be front of mind for much of the East Coast, and many Albertans have been left wondering what it could mean for them.
Bill Archer, a Mission Solar Terrestrial Scientist for the Canadian Space Agency says while the sky might seem to be falling in the east, Alberta residents may have to wait for the next one.
Archer says Grande Prairie’s astronomy enthusiasts might remember the more recent solar eclipses that passed through the area in 2017 and 2023, but this year won’t be quite as extravagant.
“Grande Prairie and Calgary would see a similar sort of thing, we talk a lot about what percentage of the sun is going to get covered by the moon in a given spot,” he says. “For context in 2017, Calgary saw 75 per cent coverage whereas Grande Prairie saw 70, so it’s similar, and compared to 2023 Calgary saw 60 per cent coverage and Grande Prairie saw 55.”
Archer says all hope is not lost for residents who wish to see the phenomenon, however. He says residents can hope to see around 15 per cent coverage during this event, but residents who want to see more should consider heading south to get a better view.
“The farther south you go, you’ll see more but not much more so it should be around 25 per cent in Southern Alberta.”
Astronomy buffs in Grande Prairie can still get a chance to see some of the effects of the eclipse though, and Archer says those who choose to participate should be mindful of some safety precautions, necessary to protect viewers from the harsh sunlight.
“For anybody who’s particularly enthusiastic they can set themselves up with equipment and take a look and they will be able to see something,” he says. “If you’ve got eclipse glasses and you’re looking at the right time you will see some effect, a little bit of a bite taken out of the sun, eclipse glasses are the number one, please take care of your eyes, but we often talk about using a pinhole camera or make a simple version of a pinhole camera by making a small hole in a piece of paper and let the light pass through that way and you’ll get a little image of the sun on the ground as the light passes through.”
Archer says the entire event will be a roughly two-hour long spectacle between noon and 1:30 p.m. but the best time to catch a glimpse in Grande Prairie is in the “early afternoon.”
“A lot of that will just be a little sliver taken out of the sun so the real focus will be around 12:40 p.m. or early afternoon will be the best time to see it,” he says.
Despite missing out on the total eclipse this year, Archer says good things will come to those who wait in Alberta. He says eager stargazers should look ahead to August 2044, when a total eclipse is on track to pass directly through Alberta in the evening, which should create quite a spectacle for those watching.
“20 years from now, it’s a bit in the future, but honestly there’s going to be quite a spectacular eclipse that really all of Alberta will be able to see,” he says. “You’re going to get a really neat effect just a couple of hands above the horizon, and you’re going to have a total solar eclipse.”
According to officials, the best viewing opportunity in Alberta for this year’s eclipse will be in the south near Lethbridge, Taber, and Medicine Hat when the sun reaches nearly 30 per cent coverage on April 8th in the early afternoon.