What the eclipse will look like in Mass.

Also: Biden's new student debt relief effort; one teen's mission to bring images of the eclipse back to Greater Boston [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 8, 2024 🌘 Sunny, with a high near 63. Good Morning Boston, We're actually excited it's Monday. A once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse will pass through New England today — and the weather is looking [pretty perfect for the rare celestial event](. Hundreds of thousands of people are chasing [the "path of totality" to places like northern New England]( for the experience of seeing the moon 100% block out the sun. But what if you couldn't — or didn't care enough to — take the day off? Massachusetts is still getting a partial eclipse, which experts say will be pretty cool (if not quite as otherworldly as totality). Here's what to expect: - So close, but so far: The Boston area will see around 93% totality — and some parts of Massachusetts will reach 95% the further north and west you go. It means "just the tiniest sliver of the sun" will be visible, according to Caity Sullivan, a planetarium educator at the Museum of Science. That makes a big difference compared to 100% totality; people in Massachusetts won't get night-like darkness of a total eclipse or be able to [see the sun's atmospheric flares](. But Sullivan says it's still an "incredible thing to witness." "It's definitely still worth looking up from Boston or Massachusetts, even if you can't travel," she said. - When to look: The moon will start to slowly move in front of the sun just after 2 p.m. and reach peak coverage around 3:30 p.m. (The eclipse will end a little after 4:30 p.m.) - What to expect: While not nearly as dramatic as totality, the sky still will get noticeably darker. Sullivan compares the change in light to "somewhere between a very cloudy day and dusk." The temperature might also drop by a few degrees. - What to look for: You'll want to get a good view of the sun — but only through the [proper eclipse glasses]( to avoid damage to your eyes. At peak 93% coverage, Sullivan says locals should also be able to see some brighter planets. "Venus will be very visible in the western part of the sky, and then Jupiter should be visible as well," she said. - Where to watch: There are a number of free viewing parties in the Boston area and around Massachusetts, some of which will have eclipse glasses for those who didn't bring their own. [Browse through all the events]( in our complete eclipse guide. (That said, if you're busy, the main advice is to just get outside.) - Snap a pic: [Click here for simple tips on how to safely photograph the eclipse with your cellphone]( whether you're seeing a partial or total eclipse. - Want a party trick? Bring out [a colander or strainer](. During the eclipse, you can hold it up and the holes will project the image of the partially covered sun on the ground. "You'll have all these little crescent shadows," Sullivan said. (Courtesy NBC10 Boston) - Making an eclipse day trip? Beware: If you've decided the path of totality is worth the drive (and [scientists generally endorse that decision]( be prepared for traffic in places you wouldn't usually expect. Vermont is [bracing for as many as 160,000 visitors to take to its highways](. (“Think of this as peak foliage weekend on steroids,” Gov. Phil Scott said.) - The official advice: Leave early, stay late and make sure you have a full tank of gas (or full charge, for the EV drivers). [Click here for a full primer]( on eclipse day trip tips. - In other news: The Steamship Authority has canceled all high-speed ferry trips between Hyannis and Nantucket through at least this afternoon, after [a four-inch crack was discovered yesterday]( in the hull of the authority's M/V Iyanough. (That's the authority's only high-speed ferry vessel.) The ship is out of service and the timeline for repairs is unclear. - Until then: You can still reserve tickets on the authority's car ferry to Nantucket, but all booking on the high-speed, passenger-only route is temporarily suspended. P.S.— You don't need special glasses for this. Even if you can't make it north, [there are ways to stream the 100% total eclipse online]( thanks to NASA and Vermont Public. Then again, New England won't see another total solar eclipse [until 2079](. So, maybe it's worth the traffic. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [One teen's mission to bring images of the eclipse back to Greater Boston]( For the many who'll remain far away from the eclipse's "path of totality," a 17-year-old science enthusiast hopes to offer a digital front row seat — in the form of a high-resolution livestream of the event viewed from Burlington, Vermont. [Read more.]( [One teen's mission to bring images of the eclipse back to Greater Boston]( For the many who'll remain far away from the eclipse's "path of totality," a 17-year-old science enthusiast hopes to offer a digital front row seat — in the form of a high-resolution livestream of the event viewed from Burlington, Vermont. [Read more.]( [Biden seeks student debt relief for millions]( The sweeping new proposals, if enacted, could ease student loan debt for millions of borrowers. [Read more.]( [Biden seeks student debt relief for millions]( The sweeping new proposals, if enacted, could ease student loan debt for millions of borrowers. [Read more.]( [Israel pulls some troops from southern Gaza, 6 months after Oct. 7 attacks]( Israel withdraws troops from Khan Younis six months after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks, as tens of thousands of Israelis hold anti-government protests. [Read more.]( [Israel pulls some troops from southern Gaza, 6 months after Oct. 7 attacks]( Israel withdraws troops from Khan Younis six months after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks, as tens of thousands of Israelis hold anti-government protests. [Read more.]( [South Carolina defeats Iowa to win the women's NCAA basketball championship]( The undefeated Gamecocks won their third NCAA title, and stole Iowa star Caitlin Clark's last chance at the ring. Even with the league's top player, Iowa was no match for South Carolina's teamwork. [Read more.]( [South Carolina defeats Iowa to win the women's NCAA basketball championship]( The undefeated Gamecocks won their third NCAA title, and stole Iowa star Caitlin Clark's last chance at the ring. Even with the league's top player, Iowa was no match for South Carolina's teamwork. [Read more.]( [A man was charged with setting a fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont office]( A 35-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly set fire to a door outside the senator's office on Friday, trapping people inside and damaging the building. No injuries were reported. [Read more.]( [A man was charged with setting a fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont office]( A 35-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly set fire to a door outside the senator's office on Friday, trapping people inside and damaging the building. No injuries were reported. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Attention hikers: Vermont search and rescue teams would like you to [ignore the call of the mountains today](. Officials say the combination of deep snow, the afternoon timing of the eclipse and large crowds will make any rescue efforts take “a great many hours and possibly days” if things get dicey on a hike. - WBUR host Lisa Mullins [writes in a moving Cognoscenti essay]( about the planned trip to see today's eclipse that never came to be after the passing of her longtime partner, Ken. - When he died in January, Charles Daniels — the debonair emcee at The Tea Party — left behind a trove of 90,000 images. They chronicled a parade of rising rock musicians that passed through the legendary concert venue, from Pete Townsend to Rod Stewart to Frank Zappa. But for decades, these pictures sat undeveloped in film canisters in his Somerville home. [As WBUR's Andrea Shea reports]( it wasn't until the last years of his life that thousands of the images were developed with support from his friends. - Do you shop at Walmart? Specifically, have you purchased "weighted goods," such as meat, seafood or bagged produce? [You could be entitled to up to $500 in cash as part of a $45 million settlement]( retailer is paying to resolve a class-action lawsuit.  What We're Reading 📚 - This Is What Space Tastes Like ([Eater]( - Boston’s defenses against rising seas lean on private development. What happens when the money dries up? ([The Boston Globe]( - For some spiritual Vermonters, the energy of the eclipse is its own attraction ([Vermont Public](  🔎 Field Guide To Boston [Snapshots of past solar eclipses across New England]( The region has been in the path of totality five times in the past century, according to NASA. The celestial spectacles occurred in 1925, 1932, 1959, 1963 and 1970. [Read more.]( [Snapshots of past solar eclipses across New England]( The region has been in the path of totality five times in the past century, according to NASA. The celestial spectacles occurred in 1925, 1932, 1959, 1963 and 1970. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common gets us up to speed on [the latest developments in the Steward Health Care saga](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [Here, it's called an earth-frappe.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news    # # # Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here.](  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here](. Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.