Viewing Monday’s Eclipse

The Great American Solar Eclipse is this coming Monday, and the Montauk Observatory has events planned at both the South Fork Natural History Museum and the Parrish Art Museum — while reservations have been going fast, there are still some spots left, but supplies of eclipse-viewing glasses at both locations have run out.

Custer Institute on Main Bayview in Southold will also be open for observing from 1 to 4 p.m.

The path of totality runs across the entire United States for the first time in nearly a century, from Oregon to South Carolina, and while New York won’t be viewing a total eclipse, we will be at 71 percent coverage at the peak of the eclipse at 2:44 p.m. on Aug. 21. The eclipse will begin here at 1:23 p.m. and will end at 4 p.m.

This is the first total solar eclipse in the United States since 1979 and there won’t be another one here until 2024. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible only from the United States was in the country’s infancy in 1778.

Below are the details on the two Montauk Observatory events: 

1. THE SOUTH FORK NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (377 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, NY 11932; www.SoFo.org), where the event is also being co-sponsored by the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt. COST: Free for those attending only the eclipse event (if you’d like to visit the museum as well, admission is $10 Adults, $7.50 kids 3-12 years, free for younger children and members). Call to reserve: 631-537-9735. Montauk Observatory astronomers Dr. Mike Inglis and Prof. Sean Tvelia will be present operating the solar telescope and available to answer question

2. PARRISH ART MUSEUM (279 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY 11976; www.ParrishArt.org). COST: The museum is charging its regular admission of $12 Adults, free for students, children under 18, and museum members; this includes access to their exhibits, as well as to the eclipse event. Call to reserve: 631-283-2118. Montauk Observatory astronomer Dr. Jeffrey Owen Katz will be present operating the solar telescope and available to answer questions.

Meade and Celestron telescopes have donated the use of solar telescopes at each of the Montauk Observatory viewing locations, and the Observatory will also be showing a live NASA broadcast of the eclipse, which will be shown regardless of the weather conditions. The observatory is recommending visitors bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch the eclipse, and is insisting that attendees get ahold of eclipse viewing safety supplies. More details on safely viewing the eclipse are online here. It is essential to protect your eyes during all partial phases of the eclipse.

As of Thursday evening, the National Weather Service was predicting sunny skies here on Monday. In case you’re planning to travel to the path of totality, the National Weather Service has put together an interactive forecasting map across the country, online here.

Beacon staff, including our Youth Reporter Corps member Viola Smith will be in Southwestern North Carolina providing dispatches from the path of totality on the big day. Follow our progress on Instagram and Twitter.

NASA has some great information on viewing the eclipse online here.