ST. LOUIS — "The difference between 99% and a total solar eclipse is literally night and day," explained Will Snyder, manager of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center.
Synder's answer may not be what you want to read, if there is something keeping you out of the path of totality. But he said a partial eclipse is still worth seeing: "A partial eclipse is a cool experience, you see part of the sun's light blocked."
Unlike people in totality, who will get to lose the glasses for a few moments, if you aren't at 100%, you'll need to keep those glasses on.
"You keep your glasses on the whole time," Snyder explained, "the sky won't get fully dark, you won't see stars and planets come out and you don't get some of the amazing effects of totality like seeing the solar corona."
Even so, it's still worth seeing. If you're looking for a fun spot close to home, the St. Louis Science Center will have a watch party outside for the partial, but more importantly, they'll live stream the total eclipse inside, including in the planetarium.
City Museum is opening up the roof to view the partial eclipse and they will hand out glasses before. Keep in mind there is limited capacity on the roof and you will have to buy general admission with roof access.
For $10 you can get into the watch party at where else... but the Moonrise Hotel. Glasses are included and you can buy themed cocktails and dishes at the rooftop garden. Keeping with the cocktail theme, 360 Rooftop Bar Downtown will also run eclipse specials. Look for Eclipse Elixir and Dark Side of the Sun mixed drinks.
Want to see it through an expensive lens? Washington University will let visitors view the eclipse through one of their solar telescopes on the steps of Brookings Hall on the Danforth Campus.
In Illinois, Eckert's is getting in on the fun too with live music and a psychic! Great Rivers and Routes is hosting a party in Collinsville with a fire performer and a visit by the Bubble Bus. Cahokia Mounds will also be open and has a variety of fun eclipse souvenirs available in the gift shop. Sunset Overlook is hosting a party that includes glasses and moon pies with admission.
To get into nature for the eclipse, Missouri State Parks has compiled a list of parks hosting watch events. Their site also lists parks in totality and in partial. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has a list of parks in totality as well.
Snyder said glasses are not optional for direct partial eclipse viewing, but there is a fun alternative. There are ways to watch it indirectly. Grab a pasta colander or strainer, take that outside and all the little holes in the strainer can project small little views of the eclipse on the ground."
