MEMPHIS, Tenn — Memphis and the Mid-South will experience a partial solar eclipse on Saturday, October 14, dimming the sunlight across the area.
An eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. This blocks the sun's light, casting a shadow on Earth's surface. Depending on how much of the sun is covered, it can appear to make the sky go dim in the middle of the day.
As long as there are no clouds, the eclipse will be visible anywhere in the Mid-South.
What time is the eclipse?
This eclipse will begin around 10:30am on Saturday morning, October 14th, as the moon slowly starts to creep in front of the sun.
You'll really want to be watching the sky around 12pm. That's when the maximum eclipse will occur and about 60% of the sun will be covered in Memphis. You'll notice that the sky will appear darker than usual around this time.
After 12pm, the moon will start to slide away from the sun until the eclipse ends at 1:30pm.
Remember, if you plan to watch the eclipse, you need special solar eclipse glasses. Sunglasses do not provide enough protection to look directly into the sun. You can find solar eclipse glasses at several locations in Memphis, including at all Memphis Public Library branches.
While this eclipse will be a sight to see, Memphis will experience an even greater eclipse on April 8, 2024. That's when nearly 100% of the sun will be covered by the moon.
So, be sure to save those solar eclipse glasses!