WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The total solar eclipse is Monday but here in South Florida it will be a partial view happening in the afternoon.
The eclipse is expected begin here at 1:48 p.m. with maximum visibility around 3 p.m.
South Florida will have a 58% eclipse of the sun. It will be a beautiful day with partly sunny skies and daytime high temperatures in the upper 70s.
The Cox Science Center and the Marmot Observatory Team is allowing guests to view the eclipse inside their observatory, which has solar filters — no glasses needed.
The telescope will project on the monitors inside.
"It shows totally insignificant we are in the scheme of the universe and for many people, it's a once-in-a-lifetime observation," Marc Wiskoff, senior technical adviser at the science center told WPTV reporter Brooke Chau.
"Now it's always good to remember not to look directly into this sunlight as it could ruin your retina."
In addition, Florida Atlantic University will have a viewing event with telescopes and eclipse glasses at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
In Palm Beach Gardens, a viewing party will take place at Mirasol Park, 12385 Jog Road, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority is hosting an eclipse viewing party in the courtyard at City Hall at 401 Clematis St. from from 2 to 4 p.m.
Local libraries originally had solar glasses available. But the Palm Beach County main, Greenacres, Lantana and West Boca and Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach exhausted their supplies.
Glasses are available to purchase, including big box stores and pharmacies.
The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.
