What to Know
- NYC won't be in the "path of totality" but it'll still be quite a spectacle; the moon will start to cover the sun at 1:23 p.m. Aug. 21
- At 2:44 p.m., it'll be at its maximum coverage (about 70 percent to 75 percent), and the partial eclipse will end at 4 p.m.
- The only safe way to look directly at uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, so get your glasses now
If you're hoping to view the total solar eclipse coming up Monday, you're going to need a pair of specialty sunglasses affixed with a solar filter. But -- as we mentioned -- that eclipse is coming up Monday. That means you have just one day to score a pair if you haven't yet.
And they've been notoriously difficult to nab. Here are a few options in the city, but you should call first to make sure they're still in stock (and if you're not sure where to get the best view in the tri-state, here are a list of spots):
GO TO THE LIBRARY
Check your local library branch. STAR_Net, a national science and technology resource for libraries, sent millions of eclipse glasses to libraries across the country, including some in New York. Branches in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, Pelham Bay, Bronx and Glendale, Flushing and the Rockaways in Queens are among the ones that got them, according to Curbed. You may have to attend one of their eclipse parties to get a pair, the website says, so call in advance to doublecheck.
[NATL] Total Solar Eclipse Crosses the US for 1st Time in 99 Years
VISIT A WARBY PARKER
Eyeglass company Warby Parker is giving out free solar eclipse glasses (limit of two per person), according to Brokelyn. The website says Warby Parker's Brooklyn location is already out of eyewear, but the company's SoHo, Meatpacking District and Upper East Side still has some (call ahead to be sure).
Local
TRY A MUSEUM
The American Museum of Natural History will host a viewing party from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday. Solar eclipse glasses will be available for purchase.
BUY ONLINE -- LIKE, NOW
Most would-be eclipse viewers will likely have more luck shopping online, assuming you can get them shipped ASAP. Amazon still has viewing glasses in stock, but most appear to be sold in packs of five or more for around $39.
But be careful -- Amazon recalled some counterfeit solar eclipse glasses earlier in the week. According to a company spokesperson, people who purchased the counterfeit glasses have been notified and will receive refunds.
Despite the recall, there are plenty of brands on Amazon and other shopping websites with the appropriate ISO certification for standardized products.
The American Astronomical Society maintains a list of reputable vendors for glasses with the appropriate filter. Official glasses should have language printed on them indicating they were built to "conform to the transmission requirements of ISO 12312-2" and "Filter for Direct Observation of the Sun."
IF ALL ELSE FAILS
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has a guide to making your own pinhole camera for safely viewing the solar eclipse. All you'll need is two pieces of white card stock, aluminum foil, tape and a pin or paper clip.
