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Picture of a sail boat on a lake with clouds in the sky and the sun blacked by the moon

Totality is on the Way-are you Ready?

By now you have probably heard that on April 8th most of Cayuga. County will experience a Total Solar Eclipse. The eclipse will start at about 2pm with totality occurring around 3:20 and the whole event ending at about 4:30.

Some people are totally excited and have already started making plans on where to view this amazing celestial event and there are others who are saying what is the big deal? A total solar eclipse is truly a once in a lifetime experience, only occurring in the same place only once every 400 years.

You and your family will not want to miss this event and we encourage you to start planning today! Avoid the rush and stay an extra day or two and to explore all Cayuga County has to offer

I have never witnessed a Solar Eclipse so I will let those who have witnesses one explain why you should not miss this event. Here’s what they had to say:

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon lines up exactly between the Sun and the Earth. The moon gradually slides in front of the sun, reducing it to a thin crescent and then totally covering it where you only see  the outer atmosphere, known as the corona, peeking out,  this is when the sky turns nearly as dark as night during the day!

Even if the day is cloudy there will still be exciting changes. Depending on your location it may appear as though there is a “360-degree sunset” around you, until transitioning into complete darkness. During the eclipse you may notice behavioral changes in your pets and wildlife— birds may stop singing and start to roost, bees may return to their hives, and bats may begin to forage. They have been fooled into thinking it is nighttime!

Totality is on the Way…are you Ready?
Totality is on the Way…are you Ready?

The only way to safely view the eclipse directly is through specialized eye protection, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers. Eclipse glasses are worn just like regular glasses, while solar viewers are held in front of your eyes. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device. 

For more safety information visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/

You and your family will not want to miss this event and we encourage you to start planning today! Avoid the rush and stay an extra day or two and to explore all Cayuga County has to offer. There are plenty of accommodations , state parks and things to discover in Cayuga County that will leave you just as amazed as the sight of the eclipse.

In Cayuga County, while the whole county will experience changes in the sky, some locations are better for viewing. The eclipse will last for about 45 minutes and will begin locally at about 2:08 p.m. Totality will start at about 3:20 p.m. depending on location. Totality occurs when the moon fully covers the sun.

Totality is on the Way…are you Ready?

Fair Haven: 3:21:34 minutes
Cayuga: 2:30 minutes
Weedsport: 2:05 minutes
Union Springs: 1:09 minutes
Auburn: 1:04 minutes