Those of you in the Southwestern US should be alert for the annular solar eclipse this afternoon.. Sadly the moon is too far out in its orbit and its apparent size is smaller than the Sun's - so the eclipse will not be total. But the views are still amazing. The Sun will still be very bright, so use eye protection or watch projections of the light though leaves on trees, holes punched in paper and so on. If you can get welder's glasses a number 14 filter (or darker) is about right.
For many the eclipse will still be underway at sunset. If you have an unobstructed view of the West this may be the best time to watch as the colors of sunset and the weird spectacle of the eclipse will combine to produce amazing views.
Those of us too far away can watch in real time online. Sky and Telescope has a listing of streaming video sites. Many have views through nice solar telescopes and some at interesting wavelengths of light. The Hydrogen-alpha line is particularly beautiful.
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