Totality is on the Way-are you Ready?
By now you have probably heard that on April 8th most of Cayuga. County will experience a Total Solar Eclipse. The eclipse will start at about 2pm with totality occurring around 3:20 and the whole event ending at about 4:30.
Some people are totally excited and have already started making plans on where to view this amazing celestial event and there are others who are saying what is the big deal? A total solar eclipse is truly a once in a lifetime experience, only occurring in the same place only once every 400 years.
You and your family will not want to miss this event and we encourage you to start planning today! Avoid the rush and stay an extra day or two and to explore all Cayuga County has to offer
I have never witnessed a Solar Eclipse so I will let those who have witnesses one explain why you should not miss this event. Here’s what they had to say:
“A Partial Eclipse Is Interesting; a Total Eclipse Is Mind-Blowing !!! Photos don’t do it justice—it’s perhaps the most spectacular natural phenomenon you’ll ever see”. Edwin L. Turner
“Even really hard-nosed scientists can get very, very moved during totality, and it’s not uncommon to see people afterward with tears and hugging and feeling very choked up. I had no idea that it was going to be so powerful and emotive and euphoric and exciting. … It’s very unlike any other experience.” Katie Russo- Eclipse Chase
What to Expect During a Total Eclipse
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon lines up exactly between the Sun and the Earth. The moon gradually slides in front of the sun, reducing it to a thin crescent and then totally covering it where you only see the outer atmosphere, known as the corona, peeking out, this is when the sky turns nearly as dark as night during the day!
Even if the day is cloudy there will still be exciting changes. Depending on your location it may appear as though there is a “360-degree sunset” around you, until transitioning into complete darkness. During the eclipse you may notice behavioral changes in your pets and wildlife— birds may stop singing and start to roost, bees may return to their hives, and bats may begin to forage. They have been fooled into thinking it is nighttime!
How to view the Eclipse Safely
The only way to safely view the eclipse directly is through specialized eye protection, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers. Eclipse glasses are worn just like regular glasses, while solar viewers are held in front of your eyes. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
- View the Sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
- You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the Sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.) Glasses can come off only during totality. Looking at the sun at any other time without approved safety glasses can permanently damage your eyesight.
- As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright Sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the Sun.
- Make sure you get your pair of glasses in advance of April 8, 2024 so you can view this celestial event safely. Do you need solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing? Call the Tour Cayuga Office at 315-255-1658 to reserve your glasses or stop in to the Equal Rights Heritage Center and pick up a pair today. Quantities are limited so don’t delay.
For more safety information visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
Places & Events to Experience the Eclipse
You and your family will not want to miss this event and we encourage you to start planning today! Avoid the rush and stay an extra day or two and to explore all Cayuga County has to offer. There are plenty of accommodations , state parks and things to discover in Cayuga County that will leave you just as amazed as the sight of the eclipse.
In Cayuga County, while the whole county will experience changes in the sky, some locations are better for viewing. The eclipse will last for about 45 minutes and will begin locally at about 2:08 p.m. Totality will start at about 3:20 p.m. depending on location. Totality occurs when the moon fully covers the sun.
Minutes of Totality for each Location:
Fair Haven: 3:21:34 minutes
Cayuga: 2:30 minutes
Weedsport: 2:05 minutes
Union Springs: 1:09 minutes
Auburn: 1:04 minutes
Discover out-of-this-world eclipse happenings in Cayuga County on our dedicated eclipse page.
Check back often as we will be updating this page as more information becomes available.
Explore Solar Eclipse Events