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Watching the solar eclipse in Ocean City
By KristinAugust 19, 20173 min read
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Approximate eclipse times
The first contact between the moon and sun will occur at about 1:22 p.m. The peak of the eclipse, when the sun is fully blocked, will occur at 2:47 p.m. Last contact will be at 4:05 p.m.Best places to watch
Some of the locations below will be giving away pairs of protective glasses, which you'll want to make sure you have before staring straight into the sun. It's only safe to view the eclipse with the naked eye during totality, when the sun is completely obscured by the moon (and it's not likely you'll see the eclipse in totality from Ocean City). However, you will most definitely need to protect your eyes during the partial eclipse--even when the sun is partially covered by the moon, staring directly at it can lead to serious eye damage or blindness. Stay safe!NASA Wallops Visitor Center
Join the party at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility's Visitor Center and see an 81.5% partial eclipse from the island. Those who take part will receive free glasses for safe viewing, and can take part in solar-themed activities and movie watching. They'll also be streaming the NASA TV live broadcast from 1 – 4 p.m, which will feature NASA experts along the path of totality and live feeds from NASA aircraft, balloons and the International Space StationOcean City library
Come party at the library before you go out to look at the sky. The Ocean City Library and the Pocomoke Library will both be offering eclipse-related snacks and crafts, as well as safety glasses available on a first come, first served basis.Assateague State Park
Out on Assateague, you'll be able to totally immerse yourself in the outdoors and lose yourself in the picturesque moment. Park officials will be handing out glasses and there will also be an exhibit at the park's Nature Nook.Downtown Salisbury
Visitors are invited to congregate at the Salisbury Plaza or the nearby parking garage at this free event, where glasses will be distributed to onlookers.Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
RSVP and receive free glasses courtesy of Avery Hall Insurance--just RSVP beforehand.Optimizing the experience
Pro tip: if you've got binoculars, bring 'em. As the eclipse nears totality, you'll be able to see the solar corona: the sun's outer atmosphere which, when the sun is covered by the moon, radiates outward. With binoculars, you might even be able to see magnetic energy and filaments of plasma that resemble ropes in the corona. Don't have binoculars or a pair of safety glasses? Try making your own pinhole projector.About Kristin
Kristin is a writer and photographer in Ocean City, Maryland, and is the content manager for OceanCity.com and other State Ventures, LLC sites. She loves getting reader-submitted stories and photos, so send her an email anytime. She also works part-time at the Art League of Ocean City and the Ocean City Film Festival and lives just off the peninsula with her dog and fiancé. Her photos can be found on Instagram @oc_kristin.
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