Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing
(OMSI) The next major total solar eclipse to visit North America will be April 8, 2024. The duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of the total eclipse of August 21, 2017. The 2017 total solar eclipse was witnessed by about 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina, and the upcoming 2024 Great American Eclipse is sure to be witnessed by many millions more. To see the full event on April 8, need to make your way to a spot in the path of totality, which will pass over Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada. A much broader region from as far north as the Arctic Circle to the southern Pacific Ocean will experience a partial solar eclipse.
On April 8, 2024, a partial solar eclipse will travel over Portland. The duration of the eclipse will be 1 hour and 46 minutes. The partial eclipse gets underway at 10:33 a.m. when the Moon makes first contact with the Sun. The maximum eclipse occurs at 11:25 a.m. when the Moon covers 23 percent of the Sun's diameter at 45 degrees above the southeastern horizon. The partial eclipse will end at 12:19 p.m. as the Moon exits or finishes its trek across the Sun’s surface.
For Oregon, if you travel southeastward, the more partial will experience. Weather and travel are always the biggest factors for eclipse viewing. In April, both the Willamette Valley and the Oregon Coast could deal with morning fog and cloudy conditions. The ideal climate with less clouds is in the east of the Cascades towards the Idaho / Nevada borders.
| Cities |
Time Max Eclipse |
Partial Eclipse |
| Portland |
11:25 AM |
23% |
| Pendleton |
11:30 AM |
28% |
| Ontario |
11:30 AM |
33% |
| Bend |
11:25 AM |
26% |
| Eugene |
11:23 AM |
23% |
| Roseburg |
11:21 AM |
24% |
| Klamath Falls |
11:21 AM |
28% |
| Burns |
11:27 AM |
30% |
| Jordan Valley |
11:28 AM |
35% |
| Astoria |
11:25 AM |
20% |
| Newport |
11:22 AM |
21% |
| Coos Bay |
11:18 AM |
23% |
Most importantly, do not view any of this eclipse without eye protection. Even during the partial phase, the Sun shines brightly enough to damage your eyes if the eclipse is observed without a protective filter. Use only an approved solar filter that blocks dangerous ultraviolet and infrared radiation and visible light. Special solar viewing glasses will be available at the OMSI Science Store.
Join OMSI for the partial eclipse with eclipse-themed treats, space science activities, and a special educator talk! Gather in the front plaza to see the eclipse in person or watch a live stream from cities along the eclipse’s direct path in the Planetarium.
Starting at 10:00 a.m., the Planetarium will also be screening a live stream of the eclipse from different cities across the country. From Oregon to Texas, viewers will be able to follow the eclipse’s direct path, come rain (and clouds) or shine!
More Information about the Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024: