Posted on: Friday, December 14, 2001

Hawai'i treated to partial eclipse

Associated Press

Visitors to the Bishop Museum got a safe look at today's partial eclipse by viewing its projected image on a 10-inch reflector telescope. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaii residents got a chance to experience a partial solar eclipse this morning.

The moon began covering the sun at 8:08 a.m., reaching a peak of 78 percent totality at 9:26 a.m.

Anyone looking at the partial eclipse was advised to use a proper viewing tool to avoid serious eye damage from looking into the sun.

The Bishop Museum opened an hour early so visitors could view the eclipse from there, watching a projected image on a reflector telescope.

Hawai'i got the most cover up of the sun than anywhere else in the United States, but there was no noticeable drop in the sun's brightness.

Grey sky conditions locally also clouded the view for some. All states except New England would have seen a partial eclipse.

A total eclipse occurred 300 miles south of Hawai'i. The event was also visible from Vancouver, Canada, to Lima, Peru.