Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This WeekThe Great Northern American Eclipse will take place Monday, April 8 when the earth, the moon and sun turn in orbital synchrony to produce a complete totality for several moments over a narrow swath …
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BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This WeekThe Great Northern American Eclipse will take place Monday, April 8 when the earth, the moon and sun turn in orbital synchrony to produce a complete totality for several moments over a narrow swath of St. Lawrence County.
According to estimates, the partial eclipse will begin over the region about 2:11 p.m., the totality begins about 3:23 p.m. and ends 3:26 p.m. The partial eclipse ends about 4:36 p.m. Times vary depending on where the path travels.
Thousands of people are expected to visit the region for a front row seat to this celestial show.
The totality over the region is literally a once in a lifetime event with the next total eclipse not scheduled to pass overhead of St. Lawrence County until 2205, and the next time the region will fall directly under the path of totality, similar to the 2024 eclipse, will not occur again until 2399. The last total solar eclipse in New York was in 1925.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth. Those in the path of totality, like St. Lawrence County residents will be on April 8, will see the sun form a bright halo ring with an obsidian center where the moon covers it.
During the partial phases of the eclipse before and after the total event, the landscape will be covered by sharp shades and eerie dim lighting. During totality the sky will take on a deep twilight, with bright stars and planets appearing.
The light from the eclipse, however, can be quite damaging to human eyes. Those viewing the event are advised to wear special eclipse glasses, available for free in many spots, and for sale at the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.
At this current time in galactic history, a rare set of coincidences make viewable eclipses possible from the earth’s surface. The moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun and the sun is about 400 times further from the earth than the moon is, according to Scientific American. Over millennia the moon will continue moving further from the earth and eventually total solar eclipses won’t be possible, Scientific American says.
For more about the eclipse, visit special pages created by St. Lawrence University at www.stlawu.edu/total-solar-eclipse-2024
The region has been gearing up for the event, and an expected influx of thousands of visitors, for months. Various educational events and other parties have been staged in the lead up and t-shirts, eclipse viewing glasses and other merchandise is available at multiple locations to purchase for mementos. Visit https://www.visitstlc.com/stlc-total-eclipse-2024-merchandise/ for a list of spots to buy eclipse merch.
In St. Lawrence County, dozens of eclipse viewing events, parties, and celebrations are planned by various organizations and businesses across the region on April 8. See this edition’s calendar for April 8 for specific events that are planned.
While the eclipse can be viewed from anywhere in St. Lawrence County, the following locations are listed by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce as viewing areas:
To pinpoint the best viewing times for totality in your location, see the eclipse timetable chart produced by the Chamber with this story.
