Are you an early riser? This Sat., March 29, the sun has a surprise for you.
Set your alarm for just before 6:45 a.m. and look east — if it is clear in the morning, the sky over the Hopewell Valley will be putting on a rare celestial show: a partial solar eclipse at sunrise. That means the day will begin with a small bite taken out of the sun.This eclipse isn’t the total kind that turns day to night. Only around 15% of the Sun will be blocked by the moon’s shadow. So it may look like a golden crescent sun climbing over the eastern horizon — a dramatic way to start your Saturday.The eclipse will already be underway when the sun peeks over the horizon at 6:47 a.m. in Hopewell. The peak, or maximum eclipse, happens just minutes later at 6:50 a.m. And the show wraps up by 7:04 a.m., as the moon slips past.If you want a good view, plan ahead. The sun will be low — just above the horizon at peak eclipse — so find a spot with a clear view to the east. Think hilltops, open fields, or anywhere without trees or buildings in the way.And don’t forget to never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Regular sunglasses won’t cut it. Use eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector to watch safely.This eclipse is part of a broader celestial event visible across parts of the Americaa, Europe, Africa, and northern Asia. But only early birds in the northeastern U.S. get the added drama of the eclipse unfolding right at sunrise.Miss this one and you’ll have to wait until Aug. 2026 for the next partial solar eclipse visible from New Jersey.So grab some coffee, your eclipse glasses, and greet the day with a cosmic twist. The sun will rise — but not quite like you’ve seen it before.
