17 Best Places To See The Solar Eclipse In New York City

Ninety-nine years ago, there was a landmark total solar eclipse in New York City. It split the city into two—the haves and the have-nots—with those to the north of 96th Street glimpsing a totally eclipsed sun and those to the south merely seeing a partial eclipse.

You’ll hear a lot from the eclipse-illiterate about New York City’s “90% coverage” and even “90% totality.” That’s like being 90% pregnant—impossible. Does not exist. On Monday, April 8, a 90% partial solar eclipse will be visible to the citizens of New York—and zero totality—with the event due to begin at 2:10 p.m. EDT and end at 4:36 p.m. EDT.

At the peak of the event—at precisely 3:25 p.m. EDT—the sun will be just shy of 90% eclipsed by the moon.

That’s a sight worth seeing—but you’ll need an open view because the eclipse will happen in the southwestern sky, beginning when 53 degrees up and reducing to 31 degrees. That’s either side of about halfway up between horizon and overhead.

Here’s where to watch in New York City.

Go West For Totality, Stay Put For A Partial

This time, the action happens in western New York, where the likes of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Watertown and the Adirondacks are crossed by the path of totality. New York City itself will next see totality on May 1, 2079.

If you can, head north or west to see the sight of your lives—the sun’s corona with your naked eyes during a total solar eclipse. If you can’t travel, here’s are some places with observing events for the partial solar eclipse in New York City:

• American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan
• The Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
• New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), Queens
• USS Intrepid, Manhattan
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn
• Shirley Chisholm State Park, Brooklyn
• One World Observatory, One World Trade Center, Manhattan (which will see a partial solar eclipse despite the misleading image of a total solar eclipse used on its tickets sales page).
• Classic Harbor Line’s Solar Eclipse Viewing Cruise

New York Parks To View The Partial Solar Eclipse

Organized events aside, there are many other great places to view the partial eclipse, many of them suggested by this post by NYC Parks before an eclipse in 2017:

• The Parade Ground at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx
• Sunset Park, Brooklyn
• American Veterans Memorial Pier, Brooklyn
• The Battery, Manhattan
• Sheep Meadow in Central Park, Manhattan
• Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
• MacNeil Park, Queens
• Conference House Park, Staten Island
• Faber Park, Staten Island

Wear Eclipse Glasses

Solar eclipse glasses will be necessary throughout the event (though there’s a 60% chance of clouds). If you can’t find any, NYC Parks is advertising its Hands-on History: Eye on the Sky event at King Manor Museum, Queens, on April 6 where you’ll be taught to make an emergency solar eclipse viewer.

For the latest on all aspects of April 8’s total solar eclipse in North America, check my main feed for new articles each day.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.