As the days approached for the celestial spectacle that represents the solar eclipse this Monday, April 8, informal sellers of sunglasses on the streets of the Big Apple did not lack an unusual question: Do they have glasses to see the eclipse? In Upper Manhattan, the young Ecuadorian, Ricardo Martínez, who helps his aunt in his glasses stand, was responsible when he responded: We simply have glasses for sun protection!
“Several people have come to ask us just this morning, and the truth is, we have been very clear in telling them that we have normal glasses. But if. There are many people who are waiting for this with excitement. We tell them they need something special. And we don’t have it,” says the migrant.
Faced with these doubts, the authorities have mobilized on several fronts to tell New Yorkers that the protections they must use to see this astronomical event directly must be very specific.
In fact, in a statement issued by the governor of New York this weekend, it was requested to verify very well the quality of these equipment distributed online and even more so on the streets.
Through a statement, the state tourism agency I Love NY asked New Yorkers and visitors “not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse, except during the limited time of totality, when the sun is completely covered by the moon, and even So, with caution.”
The way to see a solar eclipse, without damaging your eyes, is by using eclipse glasses certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 from a reliable source, highlighted the state government.
Furthermore, it is emphasized in capital letters that “sunglasses will not protect your eyes.”
For her part, New York Attorney General Letitia James also issued an alert to New Yorkers to ensure that all solar-viewing glasses they purchase are properly certified.
Eclipse blindness
The risk is that if people are exposed to the sun without proper protection, it can cause “eclipse blindness,” which can damage their eyes temporarily or permanently.
Faced with the “bombardment” of security measures for visual health, faced with this specific type of phenomenon, the Dominican Angel Morales is clear that it is a unique experience, but he prefers not to even look out: “they have already told us that special lenses are required, that one can even go blind. I will see it on television or by photo. But there is a commotion around the world with this eclipse.”
For Big Apple residents, the City’s three public library systems will distribute free solar eclipse glasses.
Bins will be available while supplies last on a first-come, first-served basis at all Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and Manhattan Public Library locations.
But beyond the predictions for visual health, these types of astral events also bring with them speculations and non-scientific interpretations.
On a corner in Harlem, last Friday, a Hispanic preacher identified as Christian, shouted loudly on a corner, that the fact that men are witnesses that “the moon is biting the sun. And if it becomes night, precisely in New York, it is a message of discontent from the Creator.”
The preacher demanded that passers-by review in the annals of history what had happened after phenomena like these, in entire countries: “let us remember that this city is a principality of sin, today the earth shook…”, said the Puerto Rican religious the same day that a 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook New York and New Jersey.”
Likewise, the Dominican Luisa Santiago, 67 years old, replied: “every year there are several eclipses in the world. And nothing has happened. They want to look for a problem in everything.”
State government announces an operation
The cosmic experience is expected to attract millions of tourists to New York, which has already skyrocketed prices at certain hotels and caused the sudden cancellation of reservations by guests who had booked accommodation months in advance. These two complaints have also caught the attention of the prosecutor’s office.
“Some areas of New York will see an influx of visitors, and I encourage any consumer who has experienced a last-minute hotel cancellation, price increase or any other interruption in service to contact my office,” the prosecutor reported. James.
Additionally, the New York State Emergency Operations Centers in Albany, Western New York and the North Country will be activated this Monday morning and will remain operational throughout the astronomical event, with the support of multiple state agencies.
State Office of Emergency Management staff will be pre-positioned at multiple locations to monitor and help coordinate emergency response efforts with individual county authorities and emergency managers.
After the spring storm that hit the tri-state area this week, temperatures are forecast to climb back into the 50s, just in time for the storm’s expected impact.
State officials warned that “warmer temperatures will create even more dangerous conditions with rapidly melting snow and ice and possible avalanche danger in mountainous areas of northern New York.”
“We must emphasize that they be careful with the weather conditions. We want New Yorkers to enjoy this rare event. Plan ahead for your experience and arrive at your destination early,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.
His “step” through NY
In the New York City area, the sun will be 90% covered, temperatures are projected to drop.
During the afternoon of this Monday, April 8, the astronomical event will cover the western and northern parts of New York State. In less than 15 minutes between 3:15 and 3:30 in the afternoon, the moon will pass between the earth and the sun, turning day into night for 1 ½ minutes to 3 ½ minutes.
The overall approximately 100-mile-wide route will enter the southwestern part of the state shortly after 3:15 p.m. And it will leave northern New York, shortly before 3:30 in the afternoon.
New York City will actually see a partial eclipse that will begin around 2 p.m. and peak around 3:25 p.m. It is projected to end around 4:36 p.m.
The entire event will last up to 2 and a half hours, marking the moment when the sun is first obstructed, to the last moments when the moon’s shadow is cast.
A show every 375 years
As the scientific and astronomical community explains, this event will be visible within a narrow route, called the path of totality, which will extend through Mexico, the United States and Canada.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, completely blocking the face of the sun.
People viewing the eclipse from places where the Moon’s shadow completely covers the Sun, known as the path of totality, will experience a total solar eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk.
Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright side of the sun.
Solar eclipses are quite numerous, between two and four per year, and occur approximately every 18 months.
The last total solar eclipse visible from the US occurred on August 21, 2017. However, a total solar eclipse occurs again in the same location approximately every 375 years.
Tips and Resources
- Protect your eyes with specialized sun glasses.
- Plan to stay in one location during the day due to expected traffic volume.
- Allow plenty of extra time for travel.
- Remember to also fill your vehicle with gas and carry snacks, water, blankets, and extra clothing in your car. The weather this time of year can range from warm temperatures to cold temperatures with snow!
- Don’t stop to view the eclipse along the highway; lifeguards must be able to pass if there is an emergency.
- Share your trip details with an emergency contact and make sure they have your itinerary, including trip details such as driving route and hotel information.
Online Resources
- You can find extensive information about the eclipse, viewing locations, and safety tips at https://www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/.
- Visit www.511ny.org or download the 511NY app for current travel conditions. Also monitor local media for traffic reports.
- Drivers can also download the New York State Thruway Authority mobile app, which provides direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras and navigation assistance while on the move. Motorists can also sign up to receive TRANSalert emails and follow @ThruwayTraffic on X for the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.
- Those visiting state parks can download the Parks Explorer app and favorite the state park or historic site they plan to visit for real-time updates on the location. For more information about visiting a state park or historic site during the eclipse, visit https://parks.ny.gov/eclipse.
- Sign up for emergency weather alerts at https://alert.ny.gov.
- For a complete list of current weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service at https://alerts.weather.gov. (Source: NY Governor)
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