Here goes the sun:  Our area gets set for the solar eclipse

It is one of the rarest and most spectacular of astronomical phenomenon – a total solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, blocking out all but the sun’s corona (or crown-like rim). Indeed, it’s so rare that we won’t see the next one until 2079 – all the more reason to note the solar eclipse that will take place between 2:30 and 4:36 p.m. Monday, April 8. 

While we’re not in the “path of totality,” our area will see a good deal of it, with at least 90% eclipse coverage around 3:25 p.m., depending on where you are. Also working in our favor – Mother Nature. Weather.com said that Monday, April 8, should be “mostly sunny” (except, of course, when it isn’t). 

When the moon completely blocks the sun, there’s a brief period when you can look directly at it, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Otherwise, you’ll need protective glasses or devices, such as a pinhole projector. As NASA noted on its website  “Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker (than sunglasses) and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.” 

Even during partial eclipses, the sun emits harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Gazing directly at the sun during an eclipse can lead to severe damage to the retina’s cells, resulting in permanent vision loss or even blindness. Added Max Schlesinger, M.D., a Westchester Medical Center Health Network ophthalmologist and retina specialist:   “The eye’s natural defenses – such as blinking and pupil constriction – are compromised during an eclipse due to the sun’s reduced brightness. It’s crucial to avoid direct sun exposure without proper eye protection.” 

Schlesinger recommended using the appropriate glasses or viewers for the duration of the eclipse, discarding any that have scratches or are more than three years old.  

The Hudson River Museum in Yonkers – which has its own planetarium and recently hosted former NASA astronaut Ronald J. Garan Jr., a native and resident of the city, as part of its eclipse festivities – will host a Super Solar Eclipse Viewing Party  (2 to 5 p.m.) with viewing using safe devices in the courtyard, a live stream in the museum lobby, an open-door eclipse presentation in the planetarium and a “Capture the Moment” event in the Greene Education Center. 

In addition, the Westchester County Parks Conservation Division is hosting five eclipse viewing events from 2 to 4 p.m. at Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains; Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye; Ladson Park Arboretum and Veterans Memorial in Katonah; Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers; and Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River. 

The Parks Department said each location will provide solar eclipse viewing glasses for attendees. Event attendance and parking are free. 

Fairfield County residents can enjoy the eclipse at the New Milford Public Library and Greenwich’s Cos Cob Library from 2 to 4 p.m. and with all-day events at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk.