While not directly in the 100% path, you will be able to see a deep partial one at 95.6% in Portland, Tenn. on April 8. The eclipse will begin around 12:44 p.m. and end around 3:20 p.m. The maximum eclipse will occur around 2:03 p.m. One of the viewing areas for Portland is Richland Park. Russellville is 30 miles from Portland, 23 miles from Adairville, and 25 miles from Auburn.
Unlike in 2017, Logan County will never reach totality. Nothing will be happening fast enough here that you couldn’t share the glasses.
The partial eclipse officially begins when the edge of the moon touches the edge of the sun and is called first contact, followed by the maximum eclipse when the deepest point has the sun at its most hidden, and finally the partial eclipse ends when the moon leaves the edge of the sun.
While Portland is not experiencing a 100% total eclipse, there will never be a safe time to take off protective glasses during the eclipse. At no time should a person ever look directly at the sun as looking at the sun can seriously hurt eyes and possibly cause blindness. The only safe options are eclipse glasses, or special solar filters and indirect viewing. According to NASA, one should never use sunglasses, color film, medical X-ray film, smoked glass, or floppy disks because retinas can be damaged permanently even in just a few seconds. The only way to safely view the sun — eclipsed or not — is to either project or filter the sun’s rays. NASA also recommends welder’s glasses rated 14 or higher. These can be found at your local welding supply store. Keep in mind that welder glass grading may be different in different countries, so be sure they meet the rating standards.
The Portland Public Library of Sumner County, as well as the Goodnight Public Library in Franklin, has free eclipse glasses while supplies last. If you need them, stop by. The Logan County Public Library has them for $1. If you miss out because the library runs out, the American Astronomical Society has compiled a list of vendors where you can buy safe eclipse glasses. Make sure you carefully read the instructions that come with the glasses. Eclipse glasses must be used whenever the disk of the sun itself can be seen. This means all the time during a partial eclipse, annular eclipse, and during any phase of a total eclipse.
While protecting your eyes, taking photos can be taken. While you cannot expect to take spectacular pictures of a solar eclipse using only your cell phone, because smartphones and small compact cameras have a wide and small lens and a small sensor, there are ways to capture the eclipse by playing to the strengths of your mobile phone.
Tips for photos include finding interesting scenery because eclipses change both the light and shapes of the shadows, so including trees, buildings and reflections make the photos more complete. Turning around for photos sometimes makes them better. Other ways are making a pinhole projector to use to take a photo of the projection and making sure to turn off the flash as they disturb natural light.
So, grab those glasses, protect your eyes, and join in the fun at the park on April 8 and enjoy the last total eclipse until Aug. 12, 2026.
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