Yisroel R.

Rockland County residents will have the rare opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse this afternoon, as the moon moves in front of the sun during an approximately 90-minute event that will be visible across the Hudson Valley and other parts of the Northeast. Here in Rockland, an estimated roughly 10% of the sun will be covered, while the eclipse will become a total solar eclipse across parts of Europe and other areas farther north.

The eclipse is expected to begin shortly after 1 p.m., reaching its maximum shortly before 2 p.m., before gradually moving away and ending at around 2:40 p.m. An estimated roughly 10% of the sun will be covered in our area. Because only a relatively small portion of the sun will be covered, the eclipse is not expected to noticeably darken the sky, although those looking up at the sun with proper eclipse protection will still be able to enjoy this amazing scientific phenomenon.

The partial eclipse will also be visible across other parts of New York, including New York City and areas throughout the Northeast. Farther north, a larger portion of the sun will be covered, while Rockland and the lower Hudson Valley will see a smaller but still visible partial eclipse.

Today’s event is part of a larger solar eclipse taking place across other parts of the world. A total solar eclipse will pass across Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small section of Portugal, where the moon will completely cover the sun for a brief period.

The last major solar eclipse seen in our area was on April 8, 2024, when residents across Rockland and the Hudson Valley gathered outdoors with eclipse glasses as approximately 90% of the sun was covered. Areas farther north and west were inside the path of totality, where the sun was completely covered.

That 2024 eclipse was the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. The next one will take place on August 23, 2044, bringing totality to portions of the United States, including parts of Montana and North Dakota.

Officials are reminding anyone planning to watch today’s eclipse to use certified eclipse glasses or another safe solar viewer, stressing that ordinary sunglasses do not provide enough protection. Eclipse glasses should be checked before use and should not be used if they are scratched, torn or otherwise damaged.

Officials also warn against viewing the sun through cameras, binoculars, telescopes or other optical devices unless they are equipped with a proper solar filter. Those without eclipse glasses can use an indirect viewing method such as a pinhole projector, while motorists are urged to keep their attention on the road and not attempt to view or photograph the eclipse while driving.