Get ready to witness a rare astronomical event in Cortland, New York! The first total eclipse over New York in 99 years will take place on Monday, April 8th across the United States, Mexico, and Canada between 2:08 to 4:30 p.m.
According to NASA, a total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon lines up perfectly between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun from the Earth’s view. Essentially, the moon must both reach a point in its orbit where it lines up perfectly with the sun and be close enough to Earth to block out the entire sun.
When viewing a total solar eclipse, safety is extremely important. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens or telescope without a solar filter can cause severe eye injury. According to the University of Rochester, solar viewing glasses, or “eclipse glasses,” work by filtering portions of the solar spectrum that could be harmful to the eye. In this case, the most important spectra to block are Ultraviolet, Visible, and Infrared.
To ensure your eclipse glasses meet the standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), look on the inside of the glasses for an ISO number 12312-2 stamped inside. For those in the path of totality, solar viewing glasses should only be taken off when no portion of the sun is visible. In Cortland, the point of totality should occur for a brief time starting at 3:23 p.m.
On SUNY Cortland’s Campus, the Physics and Art and Art History departments will be co-hosting an eclipse viewing event. The event will take place in front of Bowers Hall from 2-4 p.m. The event will offer a limited supply of SUNY Cortland-branded solar eclipse glasses, telescope viewings of the eclipse, as well as pizza and wings provided by Cortland Auxiliary Services and funded by the Physics and Engineering Club.
There will also be two 30-minute planetarium shows at 2 and 2:30 p.m. that focus on lunar and solar eclipses, moon phases and star gazing. The Art Exhibition Association (AEA) also intends to hold a workshop on creating pinhole cameras. The cameras will provide a safe way of taking a picture of the eclipse.
The last total solar eclipse occurred in August 2017, and was viewable in North America. According to NASA, after the April 8, 2024 eclipse, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the United States will occur on August 23, 2044. The next time a solar eclipse can be seen in New York state will be 2079.
The first total solar eclipse over New York in nearly a century offers an opportunity of witnessing a rare astronomical event. Although it’s exciting, it is extremely important to prioritize safety by using proper eye protection and following expert guidelines. SUNY Cortland’s viewing event will provide an opportunity for students and community members to engage with the eclipse. Be sure to experience the extraordinary total eclipse safely and enjoy the celestial wonder!