Partial Solar Eclipse this Sunday

Prowers County residents should be able to view a partial eclipse of the sun this Sunday, beginning around 7:30pm.  The National Weather Service from Pueblo is forecasting clear skies that day and into the evening hours.

This type of eclipse has been described as having a ring of fire around the sun, as the moon blocks our view once the two bodies begin their alignment in outer space.  The sun is about 93 million miles away from earth and the moon is about 248,000 miles.  Portions of Colorado, especially in the Four Corners area will have a better view than we will in the southeast section, but it will still be worth a look for a partial view of a fairly rare occurrence.  It will last just until sunset for our area, around 7:56pm on May 20.

The eclipse will be a world wide event, moving into the western U.S. just north of Eureka, CA and then continuing a southeast slant through Reno, NV, St. George, UT, south of Farmington, New Mexico and right through Albuquerque and over Lubbock, Tx.

Even though the sun will be close to setting, anyone viewing the event should take safety precautions and not stare directly into the sun.  Sunglasses will not provide a person with enough safety to look directly at the sun.

By Russ Baldwin