Partial eclipse set for Caribbean skies – but AVOID looking directly at it

The Caribbean region is set to witness a rare partial eclipse later today as the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth.

It has been over 25 years since North America last witnessed a total eclipse.

If you’re in the USA – in a narrow 70-mile corridor from Oregon to South Caroline – then you can witness the blackout, which is expected to last two minutes and 40 seconds.

But where in the West Indies can you catch this phenomenon?

REMEMBER: People should NOT look directly at the sun’s ray during the course of this celestial event, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA’s advice is that even those viewing the partial solar eclipse need to wear special eclipse glasses at all times.

All times are EST

In St Kitts and Nevis, which like the rest of the Caribbean will only see a partial eclipse, you can see 50-75% of the Sun’s rays blocked out from 2.20pm to 4.50pm. The best view will be around 3.40pm. The sight is a little earlier in Jamaica, with the eclipse beginning at 12.51pm and last until 3.34pm. The best time to witness the occurrence from Roseau, the capital of Dominica, is 3.44pm, while in St Lucia the peak is expected minutes later at 3.47pm. Grenada sees an eclipse of just over two hours and 30 minutes, with the best time to see if from St George’s at 3.49pm, seven minutes after Antigua and Barbuda get the maximum eclipse at 3.41pm.

Eclipse mania

American motorists have been warned not to behave irresponsibly by the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The organisation fears reckless behaviour as the total solar eclipse sweeps across the nation could lead to tragedies.

There are fears of gridlock as millions of sightseers converge on the “line of totality”, the narrow band of terrain where the moon blots out the sun completely.

It warns “people may be randomly parking and walking alongside the roadside in the hours around the eclipse to get the best view”.