A total eclipse will be visible in parts of the US, Canada and Mexico on April 8, 2024. While this event is similar to the 2017 eclipse, Oregon won’t be able to see nearly as much of the eclipse as last time. 

The path of totality will enter the US in Texas, and then travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire and will leave in Maine. 

The partial solar eclipse will last 1 hour and 46 minutes here in the Portland area, in Portland, beginning at 10:33 a.m. and ending at 12:19 p.m. The peak will be at 11:25 a.m. — though clouds could obscure much of the view.

Across the country, people are flocking to these states in order to witness this event. Locals in these areas have been preparing to host eclipse watch parties, while the influx of tourists has got residents on high alert. Oregon, on the other hand, is far from this path. 

According to NASA, Portland and surrounding areas will only be able to see 20-25 percent coverage. This means that the moon will appear to only take a small chunk out of the sun. In addition, if the weather is cloudy, the event will most likely be completely blocked. Portland will definitely not be the best location to watch this astronomical event. 

However, just because Portland residents won’t be able to see the full eclipse first-hand without traveling doesn’t mean they can’t join in on the fun. OMSI is hosting an eclipse celebration on April 8, 2024, which will include snacks, activities, informational presentations and live streams from cities in the path of totality.