ORONO – The final eclipse of the second millennium is a partial solar eclipse on Christmas Day, viewable over the entire continental United States.

Maine is one of the best places to observe the eclipse because the state will see more eclipse shadow than will most other places, said Alan Davenport, director of the Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine.

In Maine, the sun will be covered to 60 percent of its width.

Starting at 11:17 a.m. for Maine observers, the moon will move in front of the face of the sun. Not until 12:53 p.m. will it reach its maximum coverage of the sun, and the shadow then will recede until the sun is again fully revealed at 2:24 p.m.

“There is plenty of opportunity to catch the view during that time, even if there are just holes in the clouds to see through,” Davenport said.

Wherever people want to see this natural light show, they will need protective equipment. “Never look directly into the sun without proper protection,” Davenport warned emphatically.

“Very few materials can be used to filter sunlight safely so that watchers’ eyes can look toward the sun. For this, one safe device is an inexpensive Mylar film that has been layered with metal to allow less than 1 percent of light through,” he said. These devices are made in the form of cards or paper eyeglasses.

As a public service, the UMaine Jordan Planetarium is offering solar eclipse glasses for $2 apiece at its gift shop. Mail orders will be accepted while supplies last. Send a check or money order for $2.10 per pair to Jordan Planetarium, 5781 Wingate Hall, UMaine, Orono 04469-5781.

Researchers have used the safest method of viewing the sun for decades – a large pinhole camera. The sun can be projected onto a screen with nothing more elaborate than a tiny hole punched in a thin sheet of material such as aluminum foil.

Held between the sun and a shaded white piece of paper, it will image the round disk of the sun. During the eclipse, the round disk appears to be a “sugar cookie with a bite taken out,” Davenport said.

The moon will adopt that same odd shape during its eclipse Jan. 9, with one small difference. It is safe to look directly at the moon, Davenport said. Before we see it, the moon will start its pass into the shadow of the Earth. It will become totally shaded, but viewers will not know that until the moon begins to move out of Earth’s shadow as it rises in the Maine sky.

It comes up in the northeast at 5:10 p.m. The dramatic part of the event will end just 48 minutes later when the full moon returns to its normal brilliance.

The Jordan Planetarium program “Moon Shadows” explains the history and workings of our nearest neighbor, including the eclipses that can come from its movement around us.

In preparation for the eclipse, special showings for families will be offered at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 and 23, and a matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 23. Admission is $4, $3 for children and seniors.

For more information contact the Jordan Planetarium at 207-581-1341 or visit the Web site at www.ume.maine.edu/~lookup.