Solar eclipse 2024: NYC awes at once-in-a-lifetime event
NEW YORK - Millions of people across the Tri-State area looked to the skies in awe Monday as the total solar eclipse swept across the nation.
Spectators saw the moon block out the sun from more than a dozen states across the US. It wasn't visible from NYC, but that didn't stop locals from picking their viewing party.
How New Yorkers prepared
"I think sometimes the natural world is nice, and we miss it in New York City," one New Yorker said. "It’s a small chance for us to see something."
People across the Big Apple prepared for that small chance, planning to make Monday a half day at the office, and picking a place for the astral viewing party.
"It will be cool to see it here in New York, if we can, that’s the kicker," one resident said.
Skyscrapers may have blocked out the view of the blotted-out sun. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try, right?
"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" a resident from New Jersey said.
Several hot spots around the city offered those special sunglasses and invited people to try to see the eclipse together. The USS Intrepid used its flight deck to host a free first come, first serve watch party. Attendees listened to experts explain the cosmic phenomena while they waited
The American History Museum opened up the Arthur Ross Terrace for spectators.
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There are other events where, well, people aren’t watching at all – and on purpose.
"In the spiritual world, it’s often said that you don’t look into an eclipse," said Suzanne M. Hill, owner of OHM Center on the Upper East Side.
The OHM Center offered a series of spiritual classes meant to help you protect your energy during what could be a chaotic afternoon. This solar eclipse comes after a lunar eclipse in March, the devil’s comet, and while Mercury is in retrograde.
"When you’re looking into the eclipse, you’re looking into darkness. You don’t really want to bring that into the deepest part of your being," Hill said.
Regardless of how you feel about this rare cosmological occurrence, it won’t happen again until 2044.
"People have been predicting the end of the world, and we’re all still waiting," a resident said. "That’s how I feel about it."
When was the solar eclipse in NYC?
Here's what the eclipse will look like in NYC (Courtesy: NASA)
Technically, the total solar eclipse is not visible from New York City, although we could see a 90% partial solar eclipse. It’s set to start at 2:10 p.m., lasting until 4:36 p.m., for a total of two hours and 26 minutes. The best time to see the partial eclipse in New York City is at 3:25 p.m.