Arizona residents were able to view the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, experiencing a significant partial eclipse. While the path of totality stretched from Mexico to the Northeast United States, Arizona was not in the direct path. Observers across the state still saw the moon cover a large portion of the sun’s disc.
Arizona’s View: Type and Magnitude
Arizona witnessed a partial solar eclipse. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the moon completely blocks the sun’s face, or an annular eclipse, which leaves a “ring of fire,” a partial eclipse means the moon only takes a visible bite out of the sun. The degree of the sun’s disc covered by the moon is known as the obscuration, and this percentage varied across the state.
The northern regions of Arizona experienced a slightly higher magnitude of obscuration compared to the southern cities. This difference is due to the state’s geographic distance from the path of totality, which passed to the northeast. For instance, Flagstaff, located further north, observed an obscuration of approximately 72% of the sun’s area.
In the central and southern parts of the state, the obscuration was substantial. Phoenix saw around 63.5% of the sun covered by the moon at the maximum point of the eclipse. Tucson experienced a peak obscuration of roughly 68%, illustrating the variation across the large geographic area of Arizona.
Key Viewing Times Across Major Regions
The event unfolded over several hours, requiring viewers to know the specific start, maximum, and end times for their location. All viewing times for the state are listed in Mountain Standard Time (MST). These timings are estimates, and viewers should plan to be prepared slightly early to catch the beginning of the event.
In Phoenix, the partial eclipse began at approximately 10:10 AM MST. The maximum phase occurred around 11:20 AM MST. The partial eclipse concluded at about 12:35 PM MST.
Southern Arizona cities, such as Tucson, began their viewing window slightly earlier. The partial eclipse started at approximately 10:07 AM MST, with the maximum obscuration happening around 11:19 AM MST. The entire event for Tucson residents drew to a close at roughly 12:35 PM MST.
The northern city of Flagstaff had a slightly later start and end time compared to the southern regions. The moon first touched the edge of the sun at about 10:17 AM MST. Flagstaff’s maximum eclipse occurred later than the other major cities, peaking at 11:30 AM MST before the partial phase ended around 12:47 PM MST.
Essential Eye Safety Precautions
Viewing any solar eclipse requires strict adherence to eye safety measures to prevent eye damage. Because Arizona was outside the path of totality, the sun was never completely blocked. Observers had to use certified eye protection for the entire duration of the event, as looking directly at the sun can cause solar retinopathy.
Proper viewing requires certified solar eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. These specialized filters are thousands of times darker than ordinary sunglasses and are the only safe way to look directly at the partially eclipsed sun. Regular sunglasses are not a safe substitute and should never be used.
For those without specialized glasses, indirect viewing methods offer a safe alternative. A simple pinhole projector, which can be made from a cardboard box or even two pieces of paper, allows observers to project an image of the crescent-shaped sun onto a surface. This method safely displays the progression of the eclipse. Solar filters must also be fitted onto telescopes, binoculars, and cameras, covering the front lens completely, before aiming them at the sun.