What you need to know about the eclipse in Quebec
Your questions answered about the upcoming, out-of-this-world phenomenon
Do you enjoy when celestial bodies block out the sun for a few minutes? Then you're in for a treat on Monday when the total eclipse comes to a solar system near you.
There's one caveat: You have to live along or travel to a narrow strip of land that's a mere 200 kilometres wide if you want to see it.
But if you live in southern Quebec and the forecast for sunny weather holds up, you won't have to go far.
Just make sure to pop on a pair of special glasses before staring at the sun.
Below, you will find more information about the eclipse — including how to view it safely and how to get your hands on eclipse glasses if you haven't already — and answers to any other questions you may have about this upcoming phenomenon.
How rare are total solar eclipses?
"A total eclipse of the sun happens about every 18 months on average," said Joe Rao, former chief meteorologist and science editor at News 12 in New York.
That may sound like a lot, but that doesn't mean everybody will see each eclipse. If you happen to live in the path of an eclipse, Rao said, "congratulations, you hit the lottery."
"Because for a specific spot, a city or town to be in the zone of totality, on average a total eclipse will come to you once every 375 years," he said.
According to Montreal's Espace pour la vie, the last total solar eclipse visible from Montreal, Chisasibi and Sherbrooke occurred on August 31, 1932.
The last total solar eclipse occurred on parts of the Gaspé Peninsula on July 10, 1972 and in 1963 an eclipse was visible from the Mauricie region.
When will Quebec see a total eclipse again?
Canadians will have to wait 20 years for the next total eclipse, and that will be mainly visible in the Northwest Territories and Alberta, according to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
In Quebec, it won't be visible again until 2106, the CSA says. However, partial solar eclipses, as well as total and partial lunar eclipses, take place regularly in Canada.
What makes this eclipse special?
Rao travelled to Cap-Chat, Que., for his first eclipse in 1972 when he was 15. He says the spontaneous trip with his grandparents was a catalyst for his career. He's since seen 13 total solar eclipses, the last of which was in Antarctica.
"You see the sun suddenly appear like a glowing eye in the sky, the grand and glorious outer atmosphere of the sun, the corona streaming outward, ragged at the edge, streaks running through it — almost kind of like the same kind of light that you see during an aurora or northern lights," said Rao.
Most of the time, the eclipse's shadow passes over areas that are not easily accessible, said Rao.
"That's what makes this eclipse so, so grand, because it's going to pass over Mexico, the United States, Canada and many people can get into the zone of totality in advance to witness this great event."
What is the path of totality?
Total solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking out its light. The path of that shadow, also known as the path of totality, is extremely narrow, which is why most people have likely never seen one.
"To experience the exceptional phenomenon of total black, you really have to be in a corridor which is approximately 200 kilometres wide and 14,700 kilometres long across North America," explains astrophysicist Olivier Hernandez, director of the Montreal Planetarium.
In this case, that path will follow a line from western Mexico, up through the United States to southern Quebec. In Montreal, the total eclipse will occur at 3:26:55 p.m., while further east, in Sherbrooke, it will be at 3:27:43 p.m.
People located outside the path of totality will be able to view partial phases of the eclipse, but will not witness the moon completely blocking the sun.
Where's the best place to watch the total eclipse?
In Quebec, the best place to watch the eclipse would be along the path of totality.
The area of darkness will continue its trajectory along the St. Lawrence valley and cross southern Quebec, including most of Montreal. It will darken the skies of Montérégie, the Eastern Townships, Centre-du-Québec, the Beauce and the Magdalen Islands. In Sherbrooke, the moon will cover the sun for about three minutes and 30 seconds.
However, checking the weather beforehand will be important because clear skies are needed to get an eyeful of the eclipse. As of Friday, the forecast for Montreal and the Townships is for clear skies Monday.
Also, be mindful of sight obstructions like buildings or trees. Parks, open fields or elevated viewpoints could be suitable locations.
Can I view without eclipse glasses?
The only time it is safe to take off your eclipse glasses is when the moon has totally covered the sun. All other times, you must wear eclipse glasses.
If you look at the sun unprotected, Dr. Ralph Chou, a leading expert on eclipse eye safety, said you can very quickly reach a "threshold exposure" and initiate the process of eclipse retinopathy.
"A couple of seconds, two or three say, to just quickly look at the sun, like we often do when we go outside and so on, doesn't do any harm," said Chou.
But in the course of three hours of a solar eclipse, if you do that enough, they all add up, and you can eventually accumulate enough energy dosage to get you over that critical threshold for injury, he said.
When this is happening, it's painless, even if the retina is severely damaged, he said.
When is it safe to take my eclipse glasses off?
If you are outside the path of totality, you will have to wear eclipse glasses for the entire duration of the eclipse.
For those viewing the phenomenon inside the path of totality, when the last bits of sunlight are being extinguished at the edge of the moon, Chou says people will be able to see a phenomenon called Baily's beads — the last dots of the sun streaming through valleys on the edge of the moon.
"In the last, say, 15 seconds or so before the total eclipse actually occurs, you get what's called the diamond ring effect," said Chou.
"As it fades down, that's when you can take the filter away and look at the totally eclipsed sun. At the end of totality, you'll get that first little bright flash of light coming through on the opposite side of the moon and that will very rapidly brighten and that's the signal to put the eclipse glasses back on."
Where can I get eclipse glasses?
If you haven't found a pair by now, there's still hope.
You can check if there are any left at local retail stores. In Montreal, some 57,500 pairs of eclipse glasses were made available at 45 municipal libraries across the city on March 18.
The Montreal Science Centre will be giving them out on Monday during an event in front of the museum, starting at around 1 p.m. For more information, check out the museum's website.
Or you can head to Parc Jean-Drapeau, where a variety of artists and entertainment will be on hand Monday from 11 a.m. onwards. There will be 150,000 pairs of glasses distributed there, the city said. To find out more, visit the Planetarium's website.
Sherbrooke's science and nature museum began selling glasses, but had to order 2,000 more after nearly running out, said Raphael Bédard-Chartrand, director of programming.
Initially, the museum sold them through reservations but had to switch to first-come, first-served. People who were interested had to call the museum and put their name on the list. For people in that area, it might be worth a shot to see if they still have any that are left.
In recent weeks, Doyle Optometrists in Cowansville, Que., in the Eastern Townships has been selling eclipse glasses for $5 each. The glasses were also available at all the store locations across the province.
How to spot counterfeit eclipse glasses?
Every pair of glasses has to be compliant with the ISO 12312-2 standard. If it doesn't have an ISO label, it is not a fully compliant product, says Chou.
There should also be special warning labels on the packaging, directing people to closely supervise children who are using the product. This section will also typically contain information about the manufacturer and testing house that performed the compliance testing.
"If that language isn't there, then you start asking questions," said Chou, professor emeritus of optometry and vision science at the University of Waterloo.
Does Amazon have to verify sellers of eclipse glasses?
The regulations governing the sale of eclipse glasses does not require full compliance with the standard, said Chou.
"The seller can have a product that claims compliance and it's a buyer beware kind of situation," said Chou.
"If the product has a false labelling and it's found that in fact they didn't have the compliance testing done or they did something like that, then you know the manufacturer and the seller are fully liable. And that can be a major problem for them."
He said when products are brought into the country, customs verify that the manufacturer or importer has the necessary compliance reports and seize items and destroy them if they don't.
Can I wear welding goggles?
If you can't get eclipse glasses, possibly.
Chou says welding filter shade 13 or shade 14 are an acceptable alternative, but some welding shops do not stock the product as a regular inventory item.
He says viewers won't get a really sharp image of the sun through it because it is not an optical grade but "it will do the job for casual glances at the eclipse as the partial phases proceed."
Should I capture images with my phone?
Dave Chidley, a photojournalist and instructor based in Alberta, said cameras pointed directly at the sun will be taking an incredible amount of light and heat, putting your device at risk.
During the partial phase of the eclipse, as the moon crosses the sun, you'll need to use a solar filter to protect your phone's camera just as you'll need eclipse glasses to protect your eyes.
At totality, when the moon completely blocks the sun, you'll have to remove the filter if you want to be able to see the sun's outer atmosphere — a white ring called the corona.
Experts say the easiest way to protect your phone is to cover its camera lens with your solar eclipse glasses. Those with slightly bigger budgets can employ a larger filter from a camera store for protection and use a tripod to prevent blurry pictures.
What do I do with my eclipse glasses after?
Keep them! If you clean them with a soft cloth and store them so they do not get scratched, the glasses can last up to three years, making them perfect for the next partial eclipse visible from Montreal on March 29, 2025.
In Montreal, the city will be collecting them from those exiting Parc Jean-Drapeau. The glasses will be sent to less fortunate regions of the world where a solar eclipse is coming soon, the city says.
CBC Montreal is gathering video of how people are watching the eclipse for a project on this once-in-a-lifetime event we are all experiencing together. We're looking for video of what you do during those minutes of totality.
You can send it to videoquebec@cbc.ca, or tag us on Tiktok or Insta @cbcmontreal. We will credit all the video we use in our final production and you will be able to see it later in the day.
Reminder, you should not look at the eclipse with the naked eye or try and record it with your unprotected phone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
with files from Gordon Lambie