A PARTIAL solar eclipse will occur on Saturday, October 14 at approximately 1:15 p.m. when 25% of the sun will be blocked by the moon as seen in New York. Between Oregon and Texas, it will be an annular eclipse and will get to 96% total (the moon is closer to apogee, so the shadow is too far away to make it a total eclipse). This site gives you the path of the sun during this time:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/
Why do we mention this? It would be a great time for everyone to practice viewing the eclipse using the special eclipse glasses that can be purchased and to take pictures with the glasses and cellphones. This is a great site that explains how to do this safely:
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/static/img/smartphone-photography-eclipse/Photographing_the_Eclipse_with_your_Smartphone.pdf It would also be a great STEM project for students to create a pinhole projector for indirect viewing of the eclipse. There are many sites that show how to make them. This NASA site shows how and gives a bit more information about eclipse safety in general:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/safety/ Remember, don't look directly at the sun with basic safety glasses or point your phone's camera at the sun (you'll burn out the image sensor in your phone); only use the correct solar viewing glasses. With this exciting time coming up, it is highly recommended to get the viewing glasses before they are all bought up in the spring.
The exciting and once in a lifetime experience of a TOTAL eclipse in upstate NY happens on April 8, 2024 starting around 3:16 p.m. Totality, depending on where you are in the shadow band, lasts for somewhere from a few seconds to more than 3 min. and 30 seconds! (That's 50% longer than 2017's partial eclipse). This site:
Penn Yan New York eclipse viewing information for the Great North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024 | eclipse2024.org can help simulate what it will look like if you put the coordinates in of your location; it tells you the amount of time during which you will experience the eclipse.
Many school districts in NYS are off that day. Check with your Earth Science teachers to see if any events are happening through your school. In addition, there are many community organizations that are arranging eclipse events. Find out what your local museums, libraries, and community centers are doing. We will have more information about the April 2024 eclipse soon.
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