The moon covers the sun during a total eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, near Redmond, Ore. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)

The solar eclipse is seen from St. Paul through a break in the clouds at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (Andy Rathbun / Pioneer Press)

Annie Gray Penuel and Lauren Peck, both of Dallas, wear their makeshift eclipse glasses at Nashville's solar eclipse viewing party at First Tennessee Park on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (Shelley Mays/The Tennessean via AP)

The moon almost eclipses the sun during a near total solar eclipse as seen from Salem, Ore., Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

A crowd wears protective glasses as they watch the beginning of the solar eclipse from Salem, Ore., Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)



A crowd gathers in front of the Hollywood sign at the Griffith Observatory to watch the solar eclipse in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Val Carney, from Asheville, N.C., writes in the sand in preparation for the solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, on the beach at Isle of Palms, S.C. The city of Isle of Palms hosted a beach party "Get Eclipsed on IOP." (Mic Smith / Associated Press)

Julian Ledger, of Los Angeles, photographs the solar eclipse while his wife Shayde Ledger and friend Annemarie Penny, right dance during totality at the Albany Regional Airport in Albany, Ore., Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (Mark Ylen/Albany Democrat-Herald via AP)

The moon is seen as it starts passing in front of the sun during a solar eclipse from Ross Lake, Northern Cascades National Park, in Washington on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

UPDATE: The eclipse has come to an end in Minnesota. Here are photos from across the country.

Millions of Americans, including several from St. Paul, are traveling hundreds of miles to witness the solar eclipse in totality on Monday. The last time a solar eclipse could be seen coast to coast was 1918, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some.

Though the totality of the solar eclipse won’t be visible from Minnesota (even weather-permitting), the partial eclipse will still be worth viewing. Here’s a guide:

WHEN TO WATCH



For St. Paul area viewers, the most complete blockage will come just after 1 p.m., when the moon blocks about 83 percent of the sun. The eclipse started about 11:45 a.m. and ends at about 2:30 p.m.

An online interactive map describes exactly when the eclipse begins, peaks and ends for each zip code.

WHERE TO WATCH

Some people are heading to Missouri, Oregon and other states in the path of the total eclipse, but if travelling is out of the picture, Minnesotans can attend local events for free safety glasses and other activities.

Free viewing parties are set for 11:30 to 2:30 Monday at Afton State Park, where you can make an eclipse viewer, and at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, where you can view the eclipse through a filtered telescope. Both say they will provide eclipse glasses.

Dakota County’s Galaxie library branch in Apple Valley also is hosting an event at noon Monday, with Peter Mendygral, astrophysicist from the University of Minnesota. The event offers NASA-issued glasses.

In St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota is hosting an eclipse viewing party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 1:07 p.m., the party takes place on the museum’s level 3 terrace for the totality. For the price of museum admission, you can get safety tips for the viewing, along with free eclipse glasses.

A handful of Hennepin County libraries’ viewing parties also have been slated around roughly the same time. Limited numbers of eclipse glasses are available.

In case of bad weather, check with individual locations for cancellations.

HOW TO WATCH

Just because the moon is blocking part of the sun doesn’t mean the rest of the sun won’t be just as bright. Protective glasses are necessary in order to prevent eye damage and possible blinding.

“The sun can create burns both on the cornea, the front part of the eye, which is sort of a short term effect that can cause light sensitivity and can be very painful, but even more serious is the burns that can occur on the retina, which can be long-lasting and create a central blind spot permanently,” said Dr. Linda Chous, chief eye care officer of UnitedHealthcare Vision.

Where do I get them? There are dozens of reputable vendors to buy from, but many of them are sold out. Those who still need glasses might find some at events. Normal sunglasses won’t suffice.

How do I know if my glasses work? Many scammers have sold counterfeit glasses that don’t offer necessary protection. To confirm glasses are real, buy from a reputable vendor and make sure there’s an ISO certification printed on them. Then try them at home: if anything other than the sun (or something comparably bright, such as the sun’s reflection) is easy to see, the glasses are probably no good. Glasses are also unsafe if the sun is uncomfortably bright, surrounded by haze, or out of focus. Torn or punctured glasses are never safe. Related Articles Mike Lynch’s Skywatch: Roll down the big river of stars

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What if I can’t find any? There are actually safe ways — albeit less impressive — to view the eclipse if glasses aren’t available. For example, punch a hole in a notecard and reflect the sun’s image onto a nearby surface to see the sun’s crescent shape.

“If for some reason you or a loved one does view the eclipse without protection, damage can occur even in seconds. They should be seen by an eye doctor to rule out any damage that may be done,” Chous said. “The bottom line is don’t look at the sun without protection.”

WATCH ONLINE

Stuck inside or have clouds blocking your view? NASA will be be broadcasting the eclipse live on its website for all things eclipse beginning at 10:45 a.m.

Lisa Legge contributed to this story.