Mother Nature may taint the experience, but you can still enjoy a rare event on Monday when the total solar eclipse occurs.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon fully obscures the sun, blocking most of the light.

Visitors to Crossroads at Big Creek received a preview of the celestial event on Saturday during its Science Saturday program when children received their pair of solar-viewing glasses while learning how different species of animals react to an eclipse.

While Door County is hundreds of miles away from the closest spot where you can see the moon totally block out the sun, it will be approximately 87 percent blocked when it occurs after 2 p.m. Cloudy skies and rain are in the forecast for Monday, which could take away from the whole experience. The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society in Sturgeon Bay and Newport State Park in Ellison Bay will still host watch parties on Monday. DPAS will hold theirs from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday at the Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center on Utah Street. Newport State Park will host theirs at the same time in Lot 3.

This is the first total solar eclipse that could be seen in our area since 2017, and it will be a while before you can see it again locally. The next time it will be showcased in the United States is in 2033, when only Alaska will have a chance to see it. Over a decade later, residents and visitors in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota will have a glimpse of it in 2044. The next best chance for Wisconsinites will not be until 2045. To get a glimpse of the total solar eclipse, you should use special glasses or lens protection to protect your eyes from damage.

Picture courtesy of Buddy Nath and Pixabay