Due to a partial solar eclipse, most of the United States, Mexico and Canada will see the sun look like a fingernail as it sets on Thursday evening.

The moon will pass between the Earth and sun partially obscuring the setting sun. The eclipse will peak around 5:45 p.m. EDT and will last for more than two hours.

It will only be visible for a few minutes to residents of the East Coast, but for more than one hour on the West Coast.

Partial solar eclipse at sunset! The moon will pass in front of the sun Thursday: [video] http://t.co/GAhGBHSfoP pic.twitter.com/UkWVA1JqUi— NASA (@NASA) October 20, 2014

Do not look at the eclipse directly with no protection. Even at maximum eclipse, the sun can can cause damage to a person's eyesight. Any kind of binoculars, telescopes or cameras will make it worse as the lenses intensify the focus of the light.

One way to see the eclipse is to purchase eclipse sunglasses. Another is to punch a hole in cardboard or paper to hold in front of the eclipse so it will reflect onto the ground. A tree canopy can do the same thing if viewed in a park or shaded area.

"Overlapping leaves create a myriad of natural little pinhole cameras, each one casting an image of the crescent-sun onto the ground beneath the canopy," said NASA.

Partial eclipses are pretty common -- there will be a total of 224 in the 21st century -- but those who miss this one can see a full eclipse in 2017.

For those in New England and Hawaii, where the eclipse will not be visible, or in an area that is too cloudy, you can watch a livestream on Slooh.com.