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Clouds may cover eclipse

The cloudy skies over eastern New Mexico won’t clear up in time for today’s eclipse — unless we catch a break.

“There are going to be some breaks in the clouds, but it does look like it’s going to be partly to mostly cloudy during viewing time,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Church.

Peak viewing time for the region is from about 11:45 a.m. to noon. Eastern New Mexico can expect 79 percent coverage of the sun.

Today marks the first total solar eclipse visible in the continental United States in 38 years, according to NASA.

Clovis Community College is hosting a viewing, beginning at 10:15 a.m. — cloudy or not.

There is no charge to join the crowd at the front of the college on Schepps Boulevard.

“If we don’t get a break in the clouds, we’ll do our best to have a broadcast of the eclipse playing in the commons (inside the main building),” CCC reported on its Facebook page.

“We will most likely find other ways to nerd out over the eclipse.”

Tips on viewing the eclipse, according to NASA:

“Experts suggest that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is welders glass of sufficiently high number. The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher.”

NASA cautions that viewers who have purchased special eclipse viewing glasses need to ensure their glasses meet “ISO 12312-2 safety standard” to properly protect eyes.