Enjoy the Eclipse in Downtown Gloversville
The upcoming Solar Eclipse on April 8 has been in the news lately as this cosmic event happens once every 400 years in the same or close to the same spot. The best viewing place is in the “Path of Totality,” but Gloversville can see 95 to 98 percent of totality, close to complete coverage of the sun by the moon.
For New York State, the Solar Eclipse viewing times of full solar eclipse is from 3:10 to 3:30 p.m., depending on the location. The website eclipse2024.org allows viewers to plug in a city to view a rough animation of what the eclipse will look like in that location. In Gloversville, the action begins around 2:16 p.m. when the moon just starts slowly covering the sun. At 3:26 p.m., all but the tiniest sliver of the giant star is covered before the moon starts transitioning away.
Whether you live in Gloversville or are visiting, the best places to view this event are in clear open areas like the multiple greenspaces this walkable city offers. For a list of parks, click here, and it includes Trail Station Park on West Fulton Street that offers an unobtrusive view of the sky near the new splash pad.
Much has been reported about obtaining the best viewing glasses to ensure eye safety. Glasses should be International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12313-2 certified. Locally, the Gloversville Public Library, 58 E. Fulton St., has special eclipse viewing glasses to give away for one per household member while supplies last. While the library does not have a special event planned for the eclipse, it does have access either on site or through the Mohawk Valley Library System for users to borrow books and other materials to learn more about solar eclipses. New York State is also giving away glasses, while supplies last, at limited locations. The closest to Gloversville are:
· Mohawk Valley Welcome Center: I-90, NYS Thruway (milepost 187), westbound at Mohawk River Lock E13 in Fultonville.
· Mohawk Service Area: I-90, NYS Thruway (milepost 172), eastbound between Exit 27 (Amsterdam) and Exit 26 (Schenectady West) in Amsterdam.
To genuinely enjoy your viewing experience, be sure to pick up themed food such as half-moon cookies from Rauch’s Bakery or Cravings Café & Bakery. Several local convenient stories also sell Starbursts, Milky Way Eclipse Gum, and moon pies.
Mark your calendars for this out of sight experience and enjoy it in Downtown Gloversville.
Stay. Play. Explore. Live.
Discover Downtown Gloversville