Where to watch the October 2023 annular solar eclipse in Utah
Oct 5, 2023, 10:12 AM | Updated: 10:26 am
TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 21: Annular Solar Eclipse is observed on May 21, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. It is the first time in 25 years since last annular solar eclipse was observed in Japan. (Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
(Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — An annular solar eclipse will make its way through North, Central and South America on October 14. This means Utahns will be in the right place for an extraordinary viewing experience.
According to NASA, a partial eclipse will begin in Richfield, Utah at 9:09 a.m. MDT. It will then become an annular eclipse at 10:26 a.m. MDT. In all, the eclipse will last 2 hours and 47 minutes in the Beehive State.
Viewing and celebrating the eclipse in Utah
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management recommends astrophiles and lunartics find a location with few trees and few large landscape features to view the eclipse. According to stateparks.utah.gov, the annular eclipse will be visible in these state parks:
- Anasazi State Park
- Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
- Fremont Indian State Park & Museum
- Goblin Valley State Park
- Goosenecks State Park
- Kodachrome State Park
- Millsite State Park
- Otter Creek State Park
- Palisade State Park
- Piute State Park
- Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
- Yuba State Park
While some state parks will have protective eyewear available for purchase, those viewing the eclipse are advised to bring their own.
Along with the state parks, events dedicated to viewing the eclipse will be thrown all around the state.
This includes Snow College, which plans to host an event on its campus fields. The event will feature telescopes and science experiments. Along with this, free solar eclipse glasses will be available for guests.
A three-day event will be held in Marysvale, Utah. The event will include food trucks, an outdoor movie, multiple musical performances and a farmers’ market among other activities.
Hanksville, Utah will be throwing a two-day eclipse event. It starts with live music and a movie on Friday. On Saturday, many vendors, food trucks and local artists alike, will line Highway 24.
In Salt Lake City, the Clark Planetarium plans to hold an event to view the eclipse starting at 9 a.m. Along with this, The Leonardo will have various eclipse-themed activities and free eclipse viewing for the first 75 guests at the museum.
