The Science
On April 8, 2024, the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, casting an extraordinary shadow onto the planet below. The 1000 Islands has the rare privilege of being located in what is called the path of totality, where the sun will be completely obscured for a period of time. It is a rare celestial event that New York state won’t see again until 2079.
The event will begin at roughly 2:10 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024, with the total solar eclipse occurring at 3:22 p.m. for over three minutes before things finish up around 4:35 p.m.
What happens during such an eclipse? The temperature will drop about 10 degrees, animals and insects will act as if it’s nightfall (think crickets chirping), the planets and stars will be visible, and you will witness the effect of a sunrise and sunset all in the span of about two hours.
Safety
It’s very important to note that regular sunglasses will NOT prevent eye damage. ONLY glasses specially designed to view the solar eclipse should be used. Common knowledge still applies: NEVER look directly into the sun.