Rare Sunrise Eclipse to Bring Double Sunrise
The eclipse's path will cover a wide range of locations, including parts of Quebec and southwest New Brunswick in Canada, northern Maine in the US, and the UK, with the largest fraction of the sun's diameter being eclipsed at maximum eclipse in Atlantic Canada. The moon's shadow will be most pronounced in Nunavik, where nearly 94% of the sun's diameter will be hidden behind the moon.
A rare "double sunrise" is expected to occur on March 29, 2025, in the northeast US and eastern Canada, as a partial solar eclipse takes place at sunrise, creating a unique crescent-shaped sun on the horizon. The event will be visible in several locations, including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, and Quebec, with the exact schedule available on NASA's website.
The point of greatest eclipse will be in the Nunavik region of Quebec, Canada, where 94% of the sun will be blocked by the moon. From some locations, a "smiley face" sun will rise, displaying sharp, pointed cusps known as solar horns. This rare phenomenon occurs when the moon passes through the ascending node of its orbit, but almost 19 hours after crossing the ecliptic, it arrives at new phase, resulting in the moon's umbra missing Earth by approximately 180 miles.
The eclipse will be visible in varying extents from northwest Africa, much of Europe, northwest Russia, Iceland, and Greenland, with a small dent in the Sun at sunrise for parts of Suriname, French Guiana, and Amada in Brazil. In Canada and the US, the eclipse will be visible in the eastern regions, with maximum eclipse occurring before sunrise. Observers should use proper eye protection, such as eclipse glasses, solar filters, or a pinhole projector, to safely view the eclipse.
As the rare "double sunrise" approaches, people in the affected regions are advised to take necessary precautions to witness this unique event safely. With the right equipment and knowledge, this partial solar eclipse promises to be a breathtaking spectacle, offering a rare opportunity to observe the moon's shadow on the Earth's surface.