A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on our planet and temporarily obscuring the Sun. While a total solar eclipse completely hides the Sun, residents across California experienced a partial solar eclipse, where the Moon covered only a portion of the Sun’s disk.
Understanding Eclipse Visibility in California
California was not situated within the path of totality for the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. This path stretched across North America from Mexico, through several U.S. states including Texas and Maine, and into Canada. Observers throughout California witnessed a partial solar eclipse.
The extent of the Sun’s obscuration varied across California, with southern regions experiencing a greater percentage of coverage than northern areas. For instance, San Diego saw approximately 53.8% to 62.2% of the Sun covered by the Moon. Los Angeles experienced a partial eclipse with about 48.9% to 57% of the Sun’s area obscured.
Moving northward, the percentage of obscuration decreased. Sacramento witnessed roughly 34% to 35% of the Sun covered during the peak of the eclipse. The San Francisco Bay Area observed between 31% and 35% of the Sun blocked by the Moon.
Key Timings for California Viewers
The precise timings for the April 8, 2024, partial solar eclipse varied slightly depending on the observer’s location within California. Generally, the event began around 10:00 a.m. PDT, reached its maximum obscuration shortly after 11:10 a.m. PDT, and concluded by approximately 12:25 p.m. PDT.
In San Diego, the partial eclipse commenced at 10:03 a.m., reached its peak at 11:11 a.m., and ended by 12:23 p.m. Los Angeles viewers saw the eclipse start at 10:06 a.m., peak at 11:12 a.m., and conclude at 12:22 p.m. Further north, Sacramento’s eclipse began at 10:16 a.m., peaked at 11:15 a.m., and finished by 12:18 p.m. San Francisco experienced its start at 10:13 a.m., maximum at 11:13 a.m., and end at 12:15 p.m.
Essential Safety Measures for Viewing
Viewing a solar eclipse, even a partial one, requires adherence to eye safety protocols. Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can result in permanent eye damage. Regular sunglasses do not offer sufficient protection against the Sun’s harmful rays. Specialized eye protection is necessary for safe observation.
The only safe way to view a partial solar eclipse directly is by using ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses or viewers. These glasses are designed to filter out nearly all harmful ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. Alternatively, a pinhole projector can be used to observe the eclipse indirectly, projecting an image of the crescent Sun onto a surface.
Observing the Partial Eclipse
During the partial solar eclipse, observers in California could expect to see the Moon gradually move across the Sun’s face, creating a distinct crescent shape of sunlight. While the sky did not darken to the extent seen during a total eclipse, some subtle environmental changes might have been noticeable.
In areas with less obscuration, such as Sacramento with 34% coverage, the change in ambient light might have been so minimal that some people would not have noticed it without actively looking. However, observers might have noticed sharper shadows or the appearance of crescent-shaped shadows under trees, as the spaces between leaves act as natural pinhole cameras.
Finding an open area with a clear view of the sky was beneficial. Using simple tools like a colander to create multiple crescent projections on the ground also provided a way to observe the partial eclipse.