Southern Quebec to be plunged into darkness today by solar eclipse
CBC
This afternoon, the moon is going to move between the sun and Earth, shrouding a sliver of southern Quebec in darkness for a few minutes.
But you have to be in the right spot at the right time to fully experience the phenomenon.
That means positioning yourself along the path of totality — a corridor approximately 200 kilometres wide and 14,700 kilometres long across North America.
For example, most of Montreal falls within the path, but Laval does not. Meanwhile, Sherbrooke is near the path's centre.
That means those in Montreal will see the eclipse for roughly one minute, 25 seconds, while those in Sherbrooke will be in the dark for three minutes, 23 seconds.
The eclipse 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.
Once you find the right spot, you have to make sure you have the right eye protection to view the eclipse.
This is important because staring or even glancing at the sun a few too many times can damage your eyesight permanently.
Every pair of glasses has to be compliant with the ISO 12312-2 standard.
There are several viewing parties planned during the eclipse. In Montreal, free glasses are being handed out at an event in Parc Jean-Drapeau, at McGill University downtown and in front of the Montreal Science Centre.
A total eclipse of the sun happens about every 18 months, but it's rare to live within the path of totality.
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.
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.
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