3 Best Places To View The Solar Eclipse In Minnesota This Year
By Trent Jonas|Published July 17, 2023
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Trent Jonas
Author
Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer with a BA in English and a MFA in creative writing, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the proud father of two adult children. With more than a decade of freelance writing experience under his belt, Trent is often out exploring his favorite topics: Minnesota's woods, lakes, and trails. Rhubarb pie is his weakness, so discovering new diners is also a passion.
On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will be visible in the United States. In the Upper Midwest, we will only see a partial eclipse – about 40 to 50 percent coverage – but it’s still a pretty cool phenomenon to witness. Read on for more details and some suggestions about where to the observe the eclipse in Minnesota.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun and obscures the sun for a short time.
In the Twin Cities, the partial eclipse will begin around 10:30 a.m., peak just before noon, and end just after 1 p.m. These times will vary in different parts of the state. There are several sites, like TimeAndDate.com, that can help you pinpoint the time in your area.
When it comes to watching the eclipse in Minnesota, these are our top suggestions:
The University of Minnesota's Bell Museum is hosting an eclipse-viewing event on October 14. The museum's astronomy team will be on hand to explain the phenomenon, help you observe safely, and answer questions you may have.
2. Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve - Duluth
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve offers an elevated, unobstructed viewing area that looks east-southeast - i.e., toward the morning sun - out over Lake Superior. As a bonus, the eclipse occurs during fall bird migration, so you may be able to witness migrating raptors, as well, when you're not watching the moon cross in front of the sun.
3. Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge - Odessa
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Odessa, MN, USA
For similar reasons, we like Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in western Minnesota. It's located on the western side of a large lake and wetlands area. So, you have open views eastward and upward. There are also wildlife viewing platforms in the refuge that would work well for observing the eclipse. And again, you get the bonus fall bird migration, to boot.
If you've never seen an eclipse, I really encourage you to make an effort to do so. It's an amazing phenomenon that you ought to experience firsthand. By way of illustration, here's my shaky iPhone video of an eclipse I observed in 2017:
Always use caution when viewing an eclipse and never look directly at the sun or look through a camera, telescope, or other viewing aid that is pointed at the sun. A pair of ISO-rated eclipse glasses can help make observing the eclipse a little easier, but be sure to follow all of the manufacturer’s precautions when using them.
Do you plan to observe this year’s eclipse in Minnesota? If so, from where? Let us know in the comments!
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