A Texas Partial Solar Eclipse is a celestial event that can be viewed in most of western North America on October 23, 2014. While Houston is not in the path of the eclipse maximum during this event, a Texas Partial Solar Eclipse is still an occurrence that deserves some attention.
Nowhere will this eclipse of the Sun be total. But in most of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the Sun will be partially eclipsed. The farther west and north your location is, the more coverage will be visible to the observer. In the Western part of the country the eclipse happens while the sun is well above the horizon before sunset. In the eastern U.S., the eclipse does not end until after sunset.
I wanted to get a chance to attempt some photos, if possible, of the Texas Partial Solar Eclipse and I grabbed a celestial time frame to guide my timing on this day.
The past few days have been cloudless and sunny and I was prepared with some #14 Welder’s glass to cover my lens and attempt to take photos if possible. As the day progressed, the clouds moved into the area. Although the cloud cover was broken and sporadic, photos of the Texas Partial Solar Eclipse were going to be a challenge. I did manage a few photos without using the welders glass and timing my shots by using the clouds as a filter. I didn’t manage to get anything at Eclipse maximum, however I did my best and am not too disappointed.
When I originally wrote this post, the next great eclipse in North America was a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017. Although totality was not be visible in Houston, TX., it was observed in Casper, WY; Kansas City, KS; Jefferson City, MO; Kansas City, MO; Lincoln, NE; Salem, OR; Columbia, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO; Charleston, SC.
The Next Great Eclipses – Updates for 2023 and 2024:
On October 14, 2023, the Moon will pass between Earth and the Sun and an annular eclipse will be visible in Texas.
However, the big show will be another total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Totality will be about 115 miles wide, and cross central Texas. I will be in Bandera TX and weather permitting, should get more than 4 minutes of totality!