Partial Solar Eclipse 2014 Live Stream: Watch The Last Eclipse Of The Year Here

Thursday's partial solar eclipse will be visible across North America, but weather could be a factor in viewing the event. Slooh will have a solar eclipse live stream beginning at 5 p.m. EDT, which is good news for residents of Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts as the sun will have set before the start of the eclipse, around 5:49 p.m. EDT.

The partial solar eclipse will be the first visible solar eclipse of 2014. An annular solar eclipse -- when the moon directly aligns with the sun to produce a "ring of fire" around the moon -- was visible in parts of Australia, but the best viewing was in an uninhabited part of Antarctica.

There were two total lunar eclipses, or blood moons, in addition to the two solar eclipses in 2014. The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States will take place on Aug. 20, 2017. The 2014 lunar eclipses are part of a lunar tetrad, four lunar eclipses occurring every six months, with the next eclipse set for April 4, 2015.

While it may seem safe enough to catch of glimpse of the partial solar eclipse with the naked eye, NASA and Slooh recommend using filters or projection viewing options.

"Do not look at the Sun! This kind of eclipse requires eye protection, such as shade 12 or 14 welders' goggles. Those trying to photograph this eclipse may be able to do so safely if they are located where the Sun is on the horizon, since that cuts down its visible light and infrared emissions. But even if the partially eclipsed sun is setting at your location, and appears red or orange and not too bright, it would be wise to glance only briefly at it. Moreover, telephoto lenses amplify the brightness, and it would not be safe to look at the sun through your camera lens even if the sun is setting. Eyesight is precious, and if there’s any doubt, don’t do it," Slooh astronomer Bob Berman said in a statement.

The partial solar eclipse live stream can be viewed below.