Get Excited for the Eclipse!
If you are from Buffalo, we know you’ve heard about the upcoming solar eclipse! This eclipse will occur next week on Monday, April 8th! This eclipse is expected to last between 3 and 4.5 minutes and is expected to begin at 3:18 pm EST. Buffalo will be a hub for viewing this eclipse as Niagara Falls is one of the best places for a perfect view. There may be between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people coming to Buffalo to view this rare event!
What is an Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in between the sun and the earth, which casts a shadow over parts of the Earth and blocks the face of the sun for observers in those locations. During a solar eclipse, the moon appears to be virtually the same size as the sun, which fully blocks it. This results in the sun’s corona being visible to viewers. This full solar eclipse will not happen again for another 80 years!
Animal Behavior During the Eclipse
Animals may react to this eclipse in interesting ways. For example, if you have a cat or dog they may exhibit behaviors such as going to bed, getting quieter, yawning, or stretching. However, animals will be less affected when kept indoors.
How to View
It’s very important to not look directly at it, but instead view it through special solar glasses or a solar viewing app. One of the apps available developed by Douglas Duncan called Solar Snap Eclipse App. The app can be found in Google Play Store or Apple Store. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Another option is to hold the eclipse glasses over the smartphone camera lens to act as a filter, or use a tripod with a time-lapse.
Fun Viewing Locations
Niagara Falls State Park.
Buffalo Harbor State Park.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State College.
Explore & More Children's Museum.
Niagara Falls USA.
Buffalo Audubon Society – Beaver Meadow Nature Center.
Center for Inquiry – WNY.
Knox Farm State Park.
What’s Next?
Another total eclipse visible in Buffalo will not happen for another 80 years, so for many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In September, there is a partial eclipse coming up. This partial lunar eclipse on September 25, 2024, will last about 3 hours and 16 minutes.
Written by:
Katie Bobowicz and Katie Parks-Oehmler