Sunday will come to a close with a spectacular solar eclipse across much of the United States with the Southwest enjoying the best view and weather.

The moon will reduce the sun to what resembles a thin ring late Sunday along a path from Medford, Ore., to Redding, Calif., to Reno, Nev., to Cedar City, Utah, to Albuquerque, N.M., to Lubbock, Texas.

While officially deemed a partial eclipse elsewhere across the West, the astronomical show will still be amazing for Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Boise with more than 80 percent of the sun being covered.

AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson states that the display will be extra spectacular throughout the Rockies with the eclipse occurring right before sunset.

For those hoping to view or photograph the eclipse (doing so while adhering to the safety tips outlined by SPACE.com), Mother Nature is set to cooperate.

High pressure will promote clear skies throughout the Southwest and northward to Idaho late Sunday.

Some clouds threaten to partially obscure the view across the central and southern High Plains, which includes Lubbock, Texas.

Seattle and Portland would be treated to the same show in store for Los Angeles and San Diego, but a blanket of clouds will cover the Pacific Northwest. Some of these clouds should spill across far northern California and the interior Northwest.

Eclipse Not Confined to the West
Viewing Sunday's solar eclipse will not just be limited to the West. The rest of the United States with the exception of the East Coast will be able to see at least a sliver of the moon blocking out the sun.

Unfortunately for those from the Upper Midwest to eastern Kansas, witnessing the eclipse will be tough with thunderstorms set to roll through.

Away from the contiguous United States, clouds will likely cover Anchorage and Juneau in Alaska Sunday afternoon. Hawaii will be treated to more sunshine than clouds.

From AccuWeather.com (find the original story here); reprinted with permission.

8 Comments

1. 1. rbanks7 12:17 PM 5/17/12

   so cool, too bad I won't be able to see it from the east coast.

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2. 2. jtdwyer 01:45 PM 5/17/12

   The coolest effect can be seen by simply looking on the ground under leafy trees. Wherever the eclipse can be seen across the country, every spot of sunlight between the leaves' shadows will appear as a little eclipse!

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3. 3. jh443 06:42 PM 5/18/12

   Rather than describe where it will be seen and the extent of eclipse... why not simply post a map?

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4. 4. jh443 06:43 PM 5/18/12

   http://eclipse-maps.com/Eclipse-Maps/Gallery/Pages/Annular_solar_eclipse_of_2012_May_20.html

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5. 5. jh443 06:49 PM 5/18/12

   According to the map I've linked to, if you are east of a line from mid Texas to Wisconsin, maximum totality will be after sunset. The east coast won't see anything because the eclipse BEGINS after sunset.

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6. 6. Tony_Who 12:44 AM 5/21/12

   I have to agree about the tree shadows. I went to the park ready to do the pinhole projection and saw the effect happening all over the place.
   
   Photo sent.
   
   Thanks,
   -Tony

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7. 7. theirongiant 12:56 AM 5/21/12

   I was watching this event take place live on my laptop because rotating my head 20 degrees to the right (to look through my window) was too much effort...

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8. 8. jtdwyer in reply to Tony_Who 06:52 AM 5/21/12

   Thanks - I'm glad that at least one person was able to enjoy this rather spectacular effect. I don't know why it would be kept secret, unless people are simply unaware of it. Perhaps some responsible journalists might better publicize the eclipse 'leaf shadow' effect in the future. in my opinion it's far more interesting than viewing the eclipse through a pinhole, and more easily available.

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