Upstate NY Will Have Front Row Seats To the Next Solar Eclipse

It's still three and a half years away, but according to NASA, Upstate New York will have an awesome view of the next total solar eclipse.

NASA says the next total solar eclipse will take place on April 8th of 2024. Binghamton should see the maximum eclipse around 3:23 PM. The eclipse will start just past 2 p.m. and should be over at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Buffalo will see 100% of the sun being eclipsed that day. So maybe it would be worth taking that three and a half hour road trip if you are really into this sort of thing. I love astronomy, and if I'm still around in 2024, I will definitely be looking forward to watching this event.

I remember many years ago using my welder's helmet to view a previous solar eclipse. I'm not sure where my welder's helmet ended up, You get such a great safe view of the eclipse through a welder's helmet, so I might just go out and buy one if I can't find mine.

If you do use a welder's helmet make sure the glass inside is number 14 or darker. That is the recommendation from Earth Sky. You can cause serious damage to your eyes staring at the eclipse without proper eye protection. Earth Sky also have other ways of safely viewing solar eclipses, as well as unsafe ways of viewing solar eclipses. Click here to get that information.

The last solar eclipse that was visible in the United States was August 21st, 2017. The best view of that eclipse was in the southern part of the United States. I remember here in the Binghamton area it just looked cloudy during that eclipse and didn't get very dark at all. The one coming on April 8th of 2024 should make it look like night time here in the Binghamton area.

[via: NASA/Earth Sky]