Detroit to witness solar eclipse tonight

Oct 23, 2014 at 3:00 pm

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Detroit to witness solar eclipse tonight

Tony O'Brien

Detroit and most of the continental United States could be in for a stunning sunset tonight, as a partial solar eclipse takes place in the middle of rush hour.

A partial eclipse occurs when the moon blocks part of the sun from view. The sun then appears to have a dark shadow on a small part of its surface. As NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak describes it, "The new moon is going to take a bite out of the sun."

Here in southeast Michigan, the eclipse is expected to begin at 5:40 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 6:31 p.m.

For those of you headed westbound after work tonight, this oughta make your commute a little more bearable.

For some pro tips on viewing a solar eclipse, go to nasa.gov.
And for more information on tonight's eclipse, check out timeanddate.com.

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About The Author

Dave Mesrey

SPJ Award–winning journalist Dave Mesrey is a veteran copy editor who’s worked for the Detroit Metro Times, Motor City Muckraker, The Detroit News, and ESPN’s Grantland.com. The editor of Willie Horton’s autobiography, “The People’s Champion,” Mesrey is also a founding member of the Hamtramck Stadium Grounds Crew...