08/12/2026
MINIMAL VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE ACROSS THE GRASSLANDS
A very minimal view of a solar eclipse will sweep across the skies of the grasslands today (August 12, 2016).
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking some of the Sun’s light. It’s a beautiful reminder of our place in the vast cosmos and the wonder of celestial alignment.
In North Dakota, the partial eclipse begins at approximately 10:27 AM MDT / 11:27 AM CDT. In South Dakota, it starts slightly later, around 11:50 AM CDT. Because both states sit at the far outer edge of the eclipse’s visibility zone, the moon will only cover a very small portion of the sun—less than 1% up to about 10%, depending on how far north you are.
SAFETY FIRST: However slight the eclipse will be across the region, never look directly at the sun without certified solar viewing glasses. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for sun scanning or eclipse viewing.
For fun, safe, and environmentally friendly viewing tips on public lands, visit Woodsy Owl’s Solar Eclipse Tips:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/woodsy-owls-solar-eclipse-tips
A BETTER VIEW. Want to see more comprehensive view and a live stream of the eclipse? Try visiting NASA’s official page:
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/