CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. — On Monday, a solar eclipse will pass through New York State, and though the Capital Region won’t be in the path of totality (where the sun will be blocked out entirely) depending on the area, most residents and visitors will be able to see upwards of 95 percent coverage.
“Generally, when we’re talking about a solar eclipse, it is an alignment between the sun, the moon, and the earth,” said Dr. Charles Martin, a senior lecturer in the Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “(On Monday in Troy) it will be a 96.6 or 96.8% eclipse.”
Technically still a partial eclipse, Troy and the rest of the Capital Region will all have just a sliver of the sun for around three to three and a half minutes, Martin said, around 3:25 p.m. The entire eclipse will last for around three hours, starting at 2:12 p.m.
Forecast-wise, Abbey Gant, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Albany, said, it looks like mostly clear skies for Monday and no precipitation. Temperatures will be in the upper 50s and potentially low 60s.
There could be some cirrus clouds, Gant said, which are high, thin clouds that shouldn’t affect the visibility of the eclipse for the few minutes it rolls through. However, she said that with any cloud coverage, viewers should still wear the specialized eclipse glasses to protect their eyes.
Martin also urged people to wear and find glasses that are certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with the code 123.12-2 on them. Those glasses block harmful UV rays and all but 0.0003% of the sun, which allows users to view the eclipse safely.
“At the most eclipse that we’re going to see here in Troy, about 3% of the sun will be visible. That 3% is still many thousands of times more than the amount of light that you would get by having your glasses on,” he said. “So it is super important to have glasses on when the sun is visible.”
If Capital Region residents are heading up to the path of totality in Northern or Western New York State like Martin, however, they can take the glasses off during the three or so minutes of complete totality. All the sun during the short time will be blocked.
Folks who can’t get their hands on the glasses can also view the eclipse by making a pinhole projector, which Martin said was his favorite alternative. Those will cast an image of the eclipse on the ground, which can then be safely viewed.
If someone knows of a tree with very tight branches that cast shadows like pinholes, those can also work, he said. Some local boards in the Capitol Region proposed heading to parks in the area.
Discover Albany recommended places like Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the Crossings of Colonie, the Corning Preserve, and Thacher Park while Discover Saratoga suggested Congress Park, Saratoga Spa State Park, Moreau Lake State Park and Saratoga National Historical Park. Additionally, Saratoga National Historical Park and Hudson Crossing Park are hosting viewing parties with on-hand experts to answer questions.
Nature will act differently in response to the lack of sunlight, Martin said. The temperature might dip or the wind might change due to the lack of heat.
About 20 to 30 minutes before, as the light starts to dim, people outside will notice that the animals will begin to act like it’s nighttime, he said. About 10 or so minutes after the eclipse, they will gradually return.
If people are interested in more of an event marking the day, a few places are hosting larger celebrations.
Common Roots Brewery in Glens Falls invites folks to stop in during the eclipse to grab one of the Moon Veil IPAs as well as the Eclipse Safety Glasses they will be providing. In Gansevoort, Dancing Grain Farm Brewery is hosting a ticketed event kicking off at 1 p.m. with a drink and safety glasses included in the purchase. For a rooftop experience, folks can head to Ballston Spa’s Speckled Pig Brewing.
In Albany County, several free observational events advertise a festival-style viewing atmosphere. At Siena College’s Dudley observatory, there will be art and science activities as well as demonstrations about how to view it safely and chats about the science of an eclipse.
The Albany Skyway downtown will also have an event with a DJ, food vendors, and free safety glasses for the first 500 guests. For an after-party, the Egg in Albany is hosting an event all night with live performances, films, DJs, concessions, and more; though free, guests will need to reserve a ticket online.
For more free events, check local libraries, as several have watch parties, craft events, or live streams for those who want to view it indoors. The following is a non-exhaustive list of libraries with events listed online: Troy Public Library; Brunswick Community Library; Guilderland Public Library; Albany Public Library Howe Branch; Albany Public Library Pine Hills Branch; Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library; Mechanicville District Public Library.
A lot can be learned from the eclipse from a scientific point of view, Martin said. Some people he knows are recreating the Eddington experiment, a test of general relativity that was first performed during a total solar eclipse in 1919.
The observations confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and launched the scientist into international fame. But, as Martin said, it’s always good to double-check.
As far as new science though, there are also several people stationed along the path of totality who will videotape the eclipse and its surrounding corona as it happens, Martin said. Despite having telescopes in space and observatories, the video will create a fuller idea of what is happening rather than a still shot.
“A total solar eclipse allows us to see the corona farther down and for a very long time across the entire path of the country,” Martin said. “We can see how it moves and changes in real-time.
“To see it move and change in real-time,” he continued, “helps us understand the nuanced physics that’s going on beneath the surface or at the surface that influences this corona.”
People in the path of totality will be able to see the corona with their naked eye, which he said will look like a “wispy fire” extending in several directions in distances much farther than the sun’s diameter. Though this will be the first time Martin sees a total eclipse, he said friends have told him the still images don’t do it justice.
It will also look like night in the path of totality and in the Capital Region, Martin said, with a noticeable dimness taking over. Some people will be able to see stars — including those not normally seen because of their proximity to the sun’s light — and planets like Jupiter and Venus. However, do not look at the eclipse with a telescope, Martin said.
“During the peak eclipse in (the) Troy area, the sun will look like a very, very narrow crescent,” Martin said. “Basically, think baby crescent moon, but instead it’s a baby crescent sun, which is a very bizarre thing to see.
“Enjoy the local show,” he continued. “There’s still stuff that you can see even if you’re not in totality.
