A partial solar eclipse will occur on March 29, 2025 (Credit: NASA.gov/ Public Domain)

On the heels of the spectacular total lunar eclipse on March 13, 2025, comes another celestial spectacle. On March 29, 2025, some lucky stargazers will witness a partial solar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible in varying degrees across northeastern North America, much of Europe, and Russia.

What causes a partial solar eclipse?

During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon covers a part of the Sun's disk (Credit: Royal Astronomical Society/ CC-BY-SA-4.0)

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, but the three are not in a straight line. As a result, the Moon covers only a portion of the Sun. The degree of coverage depends on the observer's location. Some areas may see only a small bite taken out of the Sun. Others will see a larger part of the Sun covered.

From where will the eclipse be visible?

The partial eclipse will be visible in northeastern North America at sunrise and around mid-morning across Europe and Russia. The best view will be reserved for the village of Akulivik in northern Quebec, Canada, where 93.8% of the Sun’s disk will be covered. In the US, the best spot to see the eclipse will be Maine, where 86% of the Sun will be obscured. New Hampshire and Massachusetts will see up to 57% and 55% coverage, respectively. New York City will see 21% coverage, Philadelphia 11%, and Washington, DC, a mere 1.2%.

How to safely watch the partial solar eclipse

Special solar-viewing glasses are needed to watch the solar eclipse (Credit: NASA.gov/ Public Domain)

If you are on the eclipse path, look for a clear viewing spot — such as a beach or a high-rise rooftop — for the best experience. Most importantly, wear special eclipse glasses to protect your eyes from the Sun's harmful rays. If eclipse glasses are unavailable, you can also view the eclipse using a simple pinhole camera, which projects the Sun’s image onto a surface.

When is the next solar eclipse?

This will be the only solar eclipse seen in the Northern Hemisphere in 2025. The next solar eclipse, also a partial one, will occur on September 21, 2025. It will be visible only from the Southern Hemisphere.

Resources: Space.com, Forbes.com, USAtoday.com