Partial Solar Eclipse Thursday: Here's How To See It In Maryland

MARYLAND — Thursday morning in Maryland could kick off with a solar eclipse for some residents, as a partial annular solar eclipse will be visible in portions of the state.

Baltimore area residents should see the eclipse from around 5:47 a.m. to 6:39 a.m., according to timeanddate.com, which tracks such information.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon is farthest from Earth and appears smaller and doesn't completely block the view of the sun, resulting in a ring of light around the darkened moon.

The northeastern United States, Europe and most of Russia will see a partial solar eclipse, according to NASA. The full eclipse is also expected to be more visible in parts of Canada. But the partial eclipse will be viewable from Maryland.

Hopefully, the weather cooperates. The National Weather Service forecast for the Baltimore region calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m.

Related: Thursday's 'Ring Of Fire' Solar Eclipse: 5 Things To Know

Of course, safety is important when viewing a solar eclipse — even one that won't be completely visible, as in Maryland. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the only safe way to look at the sun directly is through special solar filters.

If you cannot watch it in person, Time and Date will livestream the eclipse on YouTube at 5 a.m. EDT. It also has a list of several streaming partners that will be helping out from the United States and Canada.

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on parts of Earth by fully or partially blocking the sun's light.

An annular eclipse, such as Thursday's, happens when the moon is far enough away from Earth that it appears smaller than the sun in the sky. Since the moon will not block the entire view of the sun, it will look like a dark disk on top of a large bright disk. This creates a bright annulus — or "ring of fire" — around the moon.

If you miss Thursday's eclipse, you may have two more chances before the year is over. A partial lunar eclipse is expected to take place around Nov. 19, according to NASA.

The next total eclipse won't be visible in North America, but will be seen in Antarctica and a partial eclipse in South Africa and the South Atlantic on Dec. 4, according to NASA.

While a total solar eclipse is a relatively rare event, another will happen over the United States on April 8, 2024, according to the Planetary Society. This eclipse will start in Mazatlán, Mexico, and will travel northeast into the United States, passing over Texas and through several other states before it reaches the border shared by Maine and Eastern Canada.

The maximum duration of totality will be about 4½ minutes.

Patch Editors Joey Oliver and Beth Dalbey contributed to this story.