Understanding the upcoming Great Eclipse: safety, timeline, and more
Join us for New Jersey's Largest Astronomy Party! On Monday, April 8, 2024, you're invited to celebrate The Great Eclipse at Liberty Science Center. Click here to get tickets now!
Want to learn more about the science behind the upcoming total eclipse? Check out the Q&A below from our Planetarium Director Mike Shanahan!
What’s so special about this eclipse?
A total eclipse of the sun is one of nature’s most astonishingly beautiful sights! On April 8, the eclipse will pass over North America. During the total phase, the moon will completely block the blazing disc of the sun, the land will grow dark, and the sun’s faint outer atmosphere will appear.
Total solar eclipses are rare for any one spot on Earth; on average, any place sees a total solar eclipse only once every 360 years!
Where will the eclipse travel?
The eclipse will touch down in western Mexico, cross across the United States from Texas to Maine, and exit over the Maritime Provinces.
Here in Jersey City, the sun will be 91.2% covered – a great option if you’re not in the eclipse’s path of totality!
How long will the eclipse last?
While the entire eclipse will take 2.5 hours, the total phase – when the moon completely blocks the sun and the land turns dark – lasts only about four minutes, depending on your location and how close that location is to the middle of the path of the moon shadow.
Here in Jersey City, the moon starts to move in front of the sun (and the eclipse officially starts) at 2:10 pm. Deepest coverage of the sun by the moon occurs at 3:25 pm, and the eclipse ends at 4:36 pm.
How do I view this eclipse safely?
Improper viewing of a partial solar eclipse can cause eye damage. It is important to only use safe solar eclipse viewing glasses, like the ones we’re giving out for free on April 8 at LSC!
When is the next solar eclipse viewable in New Jersey and NYC?
The next partial solar eclipse occurs in NJ/NYC on March 29, 2025. The sun will actually rise in eclipse, with sunrise occurring around 6:50 am. About one third of the sun will be blocked, and the eclipse will be over by 7:04 am.
The next total solar eclipse occurs over NJ/NYC on May 1, 2079. Here again, the event occurs just after sunrise.
Don’t miss the fun! Click here to learn more about The Great Eclipse at LSC and get tickets now.
