Yisroel R.

New Yorkers will have the rare opportunity to witness a partial Likui Chamah/solar eclipse, this afternoon, as the moon passes in front of the sun and covers nearly 10% of it during an approximately 90-minute event visible across the city.

The eclipse will begin at approximately 1:07 p.m., as the moon begins moving across a small portion of the sun. It will reach its maximum at around 1:54 p.m., when approximately 9% to 10% of the sun will be covered, before gradually moving away and ending at approximately 2:38 p.m. 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 nifloas haborei.

While only a partial eclipse will be visible here, today’s event is a much larger phenomenon across other parts of the world. A total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small section of Portugal, where the moon will completely cover the sun for a brief period. Much of Canada, Europe and parts of the United States and Africa will also see varying levels of a partial eclipse. 

The last major solar eclipse seen from our area was on April 8, 2024, when residents across New York 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 eclipse was the last total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the contiguous United States until 2044. 

The next major solar eclipse visible from the United States will not arrive for another 18 years, on August 23, 2044. That eclipse will bring totality to portions of the United States, although the path of totality will be limited to areas including Montana and North Dakota. 

New York City Emergency Management said in a message ahead of today’s eclipse that those planning to watch it should only do so using certified eclipse glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer, stressing that ordinary sunglasses do not provide adequate protection. Eclipse glasses should also be checked for damages before being used.

Officials also warned 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 method such as a pinhole projector, while motorists are being urged to keep their eyes on the road and not stop or attempt to photograph the eclipse while driving.