See partial solar eclipse, if skies don't cloud over Thursday afternoon

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Get set for the fourth and final eclipse of the year.

On Thursday, most of North America will have prime viewing of a partial solar eclipse, if it's not too cloudy in the Chicago area.

The new moon will hide part of the sun from view. The eclipse will unfold slowly following its start near the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia.

The best views will be in the U.S. Northwest and northern Canada, especially Prince of Wales Island. New England and the Canadian Maritime provinces will miss out.

Cloudy skies are predicted for the area later today. In case we catch a break, the eclipse will be visible here between 4:40 and 6 p.m.Sky gazers are urged to protect their eyes with special filtered glasses. Regular sunglasses are not good enough.

This makes for two solar and two lunar eclipses this year.