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The Science-On-A-Sphere room at the University at Albany. The path of the total solar eclipse on April 8th is depicted in red, and the path for 2017 is depicted in blue. (Erica Bouska – MediaNews Group)
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION — A solar eclipse will pass through New York State on Monday. Although the metropolitan area will not experience a total solar eclipse (the sun is completely blocked) in some areas, most residents and visitors will be able to see more than 95% coverage.
“Typically when we talk about a solar eclipse, we’re referring to the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth in a straight line,” said Dr. Charles Martin, senior lecturer in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Institute. “It’s going to be a 96.6% or 96.8% solar eclipse (in Troy on Monday).”
Although it’s technically still a partial eclipse, Troy and the rest of the metropolitan area will see a sliver of sunlight for about three to three and a half minutes starting around 3:25 p.m., Martin said. .The entire eclipse will last about three hours, starting at 2:12 p.m.
Abby Gantt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany, said Monday is expected to be mostly sunny with no precipitation. Temperatures will be in the upper 50s and possibly low 60s.
Cirrus clouds are possible, Gant said, but they will be tall, thin clouds that shouldn’t affect visibility for a few minutes as the eclipse passes. However, she said that even with cloud cover, she must wear special eclipse glasses to protect her eyes.
Martin also encouraged people to wear and find glasses that are code 123.12-2 certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These glasses block harmful UV rays and all but 0.0003% of the sun’s radiation, allowing users to safely view the solar eclipse.
“In the eclipse we’re seeing here in Troy, you’ll see about 3% of the sun. That 3% is thousands of times the amount of light you’d get with glasses,” he says. said. “That’s why it’s so important to wear glasses when you can see the sun.”
But if you’re a metropolitan area resident like Martin and on the path to totality in upstate or western New York, you can take off your glasses for about three minutes of totality. All short-term sunlight is blocked.
If you don’t have glasses, you can also make a pinhole projector to view the eclipse, which Martin says is his favorite. These project images of the eclipse onto the ground, where they can be safely viewed.
He said if someone knows of a tree with very dense branches that cast shadows like pinholes, that could work as well. Some local committees in the Capitol area have suggested going to parks in their area.
“Discover Albany” will introduce you to places such as Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Crossing of Colonies, Corning Preserve, and Thacher Park, while “Discover Saratoga” will introduce you to places such as Congress Park, Saratoga Spa State Park, Moreau Lake State Park, I suggested Saratoga National Historical Park. Additionally, Saratoga National Historical Park and Hudson Crossing Park host viewing sessions with experts on hand to answer your questions.
Martin said nature will behave differently in response to lack of sunlight. Lack of heat may cause the temperature to drop or the wind direction to change.
About 20 to 30 minutes in advance, when the lights start to dim, people outside will notice that the animals start acting as if it’s night time, he said. It will gradually return about 10 minutes after the eclipse.
If people are interested in events to commemorate this day, large celebrations are held in several locations.
Common Roots Brewery in Glens Falls is inviting people to stop by during the eclipse to pick up a Moon Veil IPA and an Eclipse safety glass on offer. In Gansevoort, Dancing Grain Farm Brewery is hosting a ticketed event starting at 1 p.m., and purchase includes a drink and safety glasses. For a rooftop experience, you can head to Speckled Pig Brewing in Ballston Spa.
Several free viewing events promote a festival-like viewing atmosphere in Albany County. Siena College’s Dudley Observatory will feature art and science activities, as well as demonstrations on how to view safely and talks about the science of solar eclipses.
There will also be an event on the Albany Skyway downtown with DJs, food vendors, and free safety glasses for the first 500 people. Albany’s Egg hosts an all-night after-party event that includes live performances, movies, DJs, concessions, and more. It’s free, but you must reserve your ticket online.
Check your local library for more free events. Some libraries are hosting viewing parties, craft events, or live streams for those who prefer to watch indoors. The following is not a complete list of libraries that have 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.
From a scientific perspective, Martin said there’s a lot to be learned from the eclipse. Some of his acquaintances are recreating the Eddington experiment, the first general relativity experiment performed during a total solar eclipse in 1919.
This observation confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and catapulted the scientist to international fame. But as Martin said, it’s always good to double check.
But when it comes to new science, Martin said there are also several people stationed along the path of totality who will be videotaping the eclipse and the surrounding corona as it occurs. There are telescopes and observatories in space, but video provides a more complete picture of what’s going on than still images.
“A total solar eclipse will allow us to see the corona much further and for a very long time, across the entire path of this country,” Martin said. “You can see how it moves and changes in real time.
“Seeing it move and change in real time helps us understand the subtle physics happening underground or on the surface that affect this corona,” he continued.
People in the path of totality will be able to see the corona with the naked eye, but it will look like a “faint flame” extending in several directions at a distance much greater than the diameter of the sun, he said. . It was Martin’s first time seeing a total solar eclipse, but he said his friends told him that still images wouldn’t convey it.
Martin said it will be night-like in the totality and metropolitan areas, and a noticeable gloom will take over. Some people will be able to see stars that are normally invisible due to their proximity to the sun’s light, and planets like Jupiter and Venus. But don’t look at the eclipse through a telescope, Martin says.
“During the peak of the eclipse in the Troy area, the sun will look like a very narrow crescent,” Martin said. “You basically think of it as a baby crescent, but it’s actually a baby crescent, which is very strange.
“Enjoy your local show,” he continued. “Even if it’s not perfect, there’s still something to see.
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