NEW ULM – The official sunset for Monday, April 8 is 7:54 p.m., however thanks to a solar eclipse the New Ulm area will get a taste of darkness in the early afternoon.

A full solar eclipse will occur Monday and will be visible across a large portion of North America. A full eclipse occurs when the moon’s orbit fully blocks the sun. This is the second full eclipse to pass over the United States in last few years. The path of this eclipse will start in Mexico and move north across central and northeast Texas, then into Arkansas and southern Missouri before going through the southern Midwest. Next it will move into the Northeast, New England and the Maritime Provinces of Canada before leaving North America.

Since this path does not cross Minnesota, New Ulm’s view of the eclipse will not be total but it should still be an impressive event.

The New Ulm Public Library is hosting a special Eclipse Watch Party at Highland Park. The library will have a limited number of eclipse glasses to use for the event.

Programming & Technology Service Librarian LeRoy Harris said the library was able to get the glasses from StarNET, a nationwide astronomy group. Harris said the library was able secure the glasses in 2023 before an annular eclipse in the fall. They will now be put to use for this solar eclipse.

The viewing party will start at 12:30 p.m. at Highland Park, located at 1627 5th North Street. Harris said Highland Park was chosen because it is on a big hill, with a big field and away from obstructions. Based on the angle of the sun, spectators should have a clear view of the eclipse.

Harris said at 12:30 p.m. he will begin handing out the safety glasses. He will also give a short safety talk. Staring directly into the sun without appropriate eye protection is dangerous. Even with the sun partially blocked, it is still bright enough to cause eye damage.

Harris said the eclipse should start around 12:47 p.m. and reach its peak around 2 p.m. The watch party will continue through 2:30 p.m.

In event of total cloud coverage, the watch party will be canceled. Though even if overcast blocks New Ulm’s view of the eclipse, the town will notice it getting darker.

Monday’s solar eclipse is a rare event. The next eclipse visible from the United States will be in 2045.