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Are you ready for one of nature’s rarest events – a Total Solar Eclipse?! On Monday, April 8th, 2024, starting at 3:20 pm and lasting 2 minutes and 38 seconds, people in the Rochester area will experience a total solar eclipse, which has not occurred in Rochester, NY since 1925!
Here’s everything you need to know about what it is, how to best view it, and where to celebrate this incredible solar event.
What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely covers the sun for a short time. During this event, the temperature may drop, and you may be able to see bright stars or planets. It will be a powerful experience!
When Can You View the Rochester Eclipse?
If you haven’t already, be sure to save the date. The total solar eclipse is an event you wont want to miss!
- 2024 Eclipse Date: Monday, April 8th, 2024
- 2024 Eclipse Time: starts at 3:20 pm
Now that you know what it is, and when you can view it, lets talk about where you can celebrate the eclipse in Rochester, and some important viewing safety precautions.
Where Can I Celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse in Rochester?
The Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) has been planning for this momentous day for over a year and is hosting a 3-day festival scheduled from Saturday, April 6th to Monday, April 8th, to celebrate the total solar eclipse.
The Roc the Eclipse festival will host daily activities, including live entertainment, planetarium shows, and much more! GreenSpark Solar is proud to sponsor the Electricity Theater, a science show featuring zaps of indoor musical lightning; get your tickets today!
Solar Eclipse Safety Precautions
While celebrating this rare occurrence, practicing proper safety precautions while viewing the solar eclipse is important. It is never safe to stare directly into the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or telescope; this can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Do not view any part of the eclipse without special-purpose solar filter glasses. Here are a couple of ways to safely view the eclipse:
- Use specially-made solar eclipse glasses. Sunglasses and homemade filters will not be enough to protect your eyes from the sun; please equip yourself with special solar eclipse glasses. You can get glasses from RMSC, Monroe County Libraries, Wegmans, and other local stores.
2. View a projected image of the sun. To do this, poke a small hole in a piece of paper or cardboard, acting as a pinhole. Next, hold another white or light-colored card in the shadow of your pinhole card about an arm’s length away; this will serve as your projection screen and is how you will view the eclipse.
GreenSpark will be present during the 3-day immersive Roc the Eclipse Festival from Saturday, April 6th to Monday, April 8th. Explore the Rochester Museum and Science Center and other local businesses and watch one of nature’s rarest events. We hope to see you there!
Where else can you meet with the GreenSpark crew? Check out our events page for more upcoming community events.
