Everything you need to know about the 2024 solar eclipse in Rochester

A rare astronomical phenomenon could propel Rochester to stratospheric heights, metaphorically speaking, as it will be one of the best places for viewing the Great North American Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Rochester will be in the path of totality − a narrow slice of geography with an optimal view of the moon perfectly in line with the Sun. And the event is expected to bring tens of thousands of sky watchers to the Flower City.

Officials estimate that the Rochester region could draw up to a half-million visitors over the span of about four days - packing hotels, congesting roadways and swarming restaurants and other local businesses.

“Experiencing totality is nothing like viewing a partial eclipse," said Steve Fentress, Director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. "In a total eclipse, the sun is completely covered by the moon in the middle of the day. The sky darkens.

The sun's corona shines with incredibly pure silver-gray light. The air is suddenly cooler. Light on the landscape around you is strange and unique. It's beyond astronomy or any other science – it's a transformation of the world, like visiting another planet for a few minutes.”

Though still a long way out, experts suggest starting to prepare for the event soon. From finding equipment and solar glasses, to what to expect from local events, booking hotels, staking out a good place for viewing or hosting your own eclipse party, here is a guide to this once-in-a-lifetime event.

'You'll never forget it': Total solar eclipse is less than a year away. Get ready now!

When was the last solar eclipse in New York?

It's been 98 years since Rochester was in the path of totality for a solar eclipse (in 1925) and it will be more than two decades (in 2045) before another total solar eclipse will be seen in the U.S., though not in New York. The next time the Rochester region will be within the path of totality is 2144.

In August 2017, Rochester experienced a partial solar eclipse as the path of totality stretched across the U.S, from Oregon to South Carolina. The next partial eclipse will be Saturday, Oct. 14, when 25% of the sun will be covered at 1:13 p.m.. Schneiderman said.

What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when Earth, the moon and the sun are in syzygy − alignment − during which the moon moves between the sun and Earth and blocks the solar light from reaching Earth.

During totality, it should get very dark and it is the only time you would be able to see the sun's corona, as well as colorful lights in the chromosphere and solar prominences with your eyes because the moon will be blocking out the most extreme source of light. You should feel a temperature drop and animals may begin to act like it is nighttime.

This particular eclipse is also special in that the distance the moon and sun will be from Earth at that time will make the relative sizes of the two objects appear about the same. That means the moon will completely blot out the sun and not show the ring of fire other total eclipses have.

What time is the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse?

Starting at 2:07 p.m. on April 8 in Rochester, the moon will begin to appear to move in front of the sun. Totality begins at 3:20 p.m. and will last for 3 minutes and 38 seconds (plus or minus a few seconds depending where you are standing.) By 4:33 p.m. the moon will have moved past the sun returning the light to normal.

What is the path of totality for the solar eclipse

In New York, Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Rochester will all be in the path of totality, as will Watertown and Plattsburgh. Locally, Brockport is directly on the center line of totality, as is the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls.

The shadow will be traveling at an average of about 2,300 miles per hour across New York state and will only take about 10 minutes, from one side of state to the other, said Dan Schneiderman, RMSC's eclipse partnership coordinator.

Across North America, notable cities in the path of totality include Mazatlán and Torreón, Mexico; San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo and Rochester, New York; Burlington, Vermont; and most of Montreal, Canada.

Is it safe to watch an eclipse?

While partial solar eclipses and most total solar eclipses must be viewed through special lenses so as not to damage your eyes, during the three minutes when the moon will totally obscure the sun, you can safely take off your glasses and look up at it with the naked eye.

Solar eclipse 2024 big business for Rochester NY

“This once-in-a-generation event will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to our community and will generate economic impact for the community and our partners in the tourism and hospitality industry," said Don Jefferies, president and CEO of Visit Rochester, a tourism promotion agency for Monroe County.

Schneiderman said estimates predict that the eclipse could bring between 300,000 and 500,000 visitors to the nine-county Rochester region and roughly 1 million visitors to western and central New York - between Niagara Falls and Syracuse. Visit Rochester's estimates were more conservative - with a predicted 350,000 to 400,000 out-of-towners expected to travel to Rochester to view the eclipse.

Part of the large draw for Rochester is its proximity, said Visit Rochester spokeswoman Rachel Laber Pulvino.

"Rochester is the largest city in the full path of totality that is nearest the east coast and major cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia and D.C.," she said.

A predicted economic impact was not immediately known as Visit Rochester is working on a "solid estimate" for what it will mean to Monroe County. But in comparison, the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in May pumped $190 million into the Rochester area economy with roughly 90,000 out-of-town visitors for the weeklong golf tournament, according to a report by the Greater Rochester Enterprise.

Laber Pulvino said she expects hotels in the Rochester region "to have a very high occupancy figures during the weekend leading up to and the day of the eclipse."

A quick look at hotels and rentals near Rochester showed many rooms going for between $200 and $600 a night on the days surrounding the eclipse. Rooms are currently available. Hotel rates will reflect supply and demand. Contact hotels directly for the best rates.

Visit Rochester has a landing page for all things eclipse and visiting the Rochester region. Among the information it will be posting and updating includes public events around the region. The Rochester Museum & Science Center also launched its own eclipse-centric website rochestereclipse2024.org.

Solar eclipse 2024 events in Rochester NY

For the eclipse itself, the Rochester Museum & Science Center is hosting a four-day festival, the ROC the Eclipse Festival, between April 5 and 8. The event, expected to draw thousands each day, will include hands-on activities, speakers, music and food at the RMSC campus at 657 East Ave, Rochester. Activities will be held both inside and outside.

The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester is planning a three-day celebration dedicated to playing with light. For example, visitors will be able to create art on a Lite Brite-like board, craft a kaleidoscope and make shadow puppets. The museum will also showcase a display of space-themed toys and games.

The Memorial Art Gallery and George Eastman Museum, both in Rochester, and the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Caledonia are all planning to hold festivals or special events to mark the eclipse, Schneiderman said. Viewing events are also planned to take place at Tinker Nature Park in Henrietta and at Corn Hill Landing, Rochester Public Market and Parcel 5.

A special viewing event dubbed "Total Eclipse of the Port" is planned State University College at Brockport - where the center of the line of totality grazes the university's football field and passes over Brockport's High School and Middle School. The location gives Brockport an extra five seconds of totality compared to the City of Rochester and other parts of the region. The event will include food trucks and other activities.

The Town of Perinton has also planned a community eclipse watching party "Total Eclipse of the Park" on April 8 at the Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Perinton. The family-friendly event will include swimming, a bounce house, food trucks and other activities.

Dozens of other viewing parties are expected to be organized by community groups, said Schneiderman.

RMSC launched a community eclipse ambassador program to train each of the roughly 50 participant groups in the nine-county region about the eclipse, basic astronomy and eclipse viewing safety. Each group will also be outfitted with equipment, including a telescope with solar viewing filter, educational materials and solar viewing glasses. The groups are each expected to host or assist with a eclipse viewing parties.

A traveling eclipse art exhibit by eclipse artist and astronomer Tyler Nordgren will be displayed at a different Rochester area location each month until April 2024. It's at Flight Wine Bar in Corn Hill Landing in July and will be at the Central Library of Rochester on South Avenue. The exhibit features 30 eclipse posters.

Other events leading up to the April 8, 2024 eclipse will also take place each month around the Rochester region, including talks at various libraries and museums, sky-watching parties and twilight hikes.

Where to get solar glasses near Rochester NY

Eye protection is a must for anyone who wants to look up at the eclipse. If you have glasses from a prior solar eclipse − like 2017 or will obtain a pair for the partial solar eclipse coming in October − you can use those. Planners suggest getting them early as supplies could run out closer to the event.

The Rochester Museum & Science Center is currently selling eclipse glasses at the museum for $2.50 per pair. Some local groups will be acquiring and distributing glasses as well.

The museum is currently in the process of ordering nearly 500,000 eclipse glasses for the Rochester region, Schneiderman said. The huge supply was inspired by the 2017 shortage of solar eclipse glasses, he said. In 2017, people waited in line for hours for a chance to snag a pair of specialized solar eclipse spectacles.

You can also buy solar eclipse glasses online, but be sure to check that the filter material conforms to ISO 12312-2, the international standard for filters for direct observation of the sun, according to the RMSC. (Celestron, a reputable maker of telescopes and binoculars, uses a “Solar Safe” logo to represent its compliance with ISO 12312-2.)

Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun, Schneiderman said. Do not use the following materials for solar viewing: CDs, mylar ballons, laser show glasses or 3D glasses.

Where to view the solar eclipse 2024 in Rochester NY

Suggested viewing locations in the City of Rochester include High Falls, Parcel 5, Cobbs Hill Park, Highland Park, Genesee Valley Park and Ontario Beach Park. The Rochester Museum and Science Center on East Avenue is also hosting a Roc the Eclipse Festival.

Elsewhere in Monroe County, suggested viewing sites include Mendon Ponds Park, Durand Eastman Park, the campus at the State University College at Brockport and Hamlin Beach State Park.

You can also watch the eclipse online. NASA and other organizations will create a link for live eclipse viewing closer to the event.

Schneiderman reminded folks to plan ahead to decide where they want to be and who they want to view the eclipse with. "Whoever you are with during totality, you'll forever remember that moment," he said.

"I personally plan to stand next to my wife, holding my daughter in my arms," Schneiderman said.

Will school schedules be modified by solar eclipse in Rochester NY?

In short, yes.

In the Rochester region, the eclipse will take place the Monday after a week-long spring break at the time most classes are dismissed for the day. Most Rochester area school districts opted to extend spring break by a day and have canceled class on April 8.

Mary Grow, East Irondequoit's Superintendent and the president of Monroe County's Council of Superintendents, said state officials earlier this year reached out to the council regarding the impact the eclipse could have on the school day, particularly due to anticipated heavy traffic around dismissal time. The decision on whether to cancel class for the day was left up to each district, she said.

Schneiderman said that "almost every school district in the nine-county region has canceled class for the day."

Finding amateur astronomy and solar photography equipment

If you plan to buy a new telescope, binoculars, tripod or other equipment that tracks the sun's path across the sky so you don't have to continually find and focus your scope, it's best to buy it early and get in lots of practice. It's easy enough to practice on the sun.

A key piece of equipment will be a solar filter − just like your eyes need solar glasses, your equipment lenses could also be damaged by the sun. For scopes, make sure to put the filter on the very front, and tape it in place so it doesn't fall off. Once the equipment is protected, your eyes, looking into that equipment, will also be. Solar filters can be purchased for telescopes, binoculars, camera lenses and even smartphone cameras and can run $13 to $150.

You could also make an optical projector − like a pinhole viewer − or purchase ready-made ones online. Colanders can work and even holes in tree leaves can project little eclipse shapes of light all over the ground.

What sun- and moon-themed foods to eat and drink at a solar eclipse party

If planning an eclipse party, there are some obvious choices for food and drink to have on hand.

• Drinks: cosmos, Blue Moon beer, moonshine or Sunny D (for the alcohol-free crowd).

• Snacks/candy: Milky Way, Starburst, Eclipse gum, moon pies, SunMaid raisins, Sun Chips, Luna bars.

• Food/dessert: chocolate blackout cake, MoonPies, crescent rolls, swiss cheese, sun-dried tomatoes.

• Other: Any music playlist would have to include Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

For more eclipse information, visit the international site eclipse2024.org.

Includes reporting by April Barton of the Burlington Free Press

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Solar eclipse 2024 in Rochester NY: Planning guide