The April 8 solar eclipse is almost here, North Jersey. Here's your complete viewing guide
On April 8, parts of the United States, Mexico, and Canada will get a glimpse of a celestial rarity: a total solar eclipse that will pass over a swath of North America. It will be the last full eclipse of the sun to be visible anywhere in the U.S. until Aug. 23, 2044.
Unfortunately for those of us here in North Jersey, you'll have to travel out of state to get the best view of the eclipse. While most Americans will get a glimpse, the Garden State is at least a 4 to 5 hour drive from areas of upstate New York and northwest Pennsylvania that will be in the path of totality, which will stretch in the U.S. from Texas into Maine.
New Jerseyans will still get a great show, weather cooperating. About 90% of the sun will be covered in our area, blocking out all but a sliver of the star. That's still enough light to do serious damage to your eyes, so take precautions. Songbirds will fall silent, owls will awake with a hoot. And Yankees fans could get a treat.
Don't miss out. The next total eclipse in New Jersey skies won't occur until May 1, 2079, so set your alarms.
Here's a complete look at our coverage:
What are the odds of seeing the eclipse? Depends on the time, the place − and the weather
Serious sky-watchers have their eyes on the prize: the total eclipse. That's the 100% blackout that occurs when the moon's shadow completely overspreads the sun's disc, creating the breathtaking image of a black circle with the fiery corona at the edges (which viewers should not look at directly).
"There's almost a mystical quality," said Amie Gallagher, director of the Raritan Valley Community College planetarium. "The totality experience is amazing."
What will the April solar eclipse look like from North Jersey? Expect a ‘visual spectacle’
Residents of the Garden State can still get a good view without venturing outside its borders. Virtually all of North Jersey will see 90 to 95% of the sun obscured by the moon on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, while most of South Jersey will be in the 85 to 90% range, according to this NASA map.
En espanol: ¿Cómo se verá el eclipse solar de abril desde el norte de Nueva Jersey? Un 'espectáculo visual'
Will it rain in NJ for the eclipse? We checked past weather for April 8
Here's the latest on the eclipse-day forecast.
Will we actually get to see anything? Could the day turn cloudy? For what it's worth, over the past 25 years, April 8 brought us clear or mostly clear skies 15 times.
Where to get solar eclipse glasses in NJ
Science museums, libraries, department stores and online retailers all have sales on eyewear designed and certified to let you watch safely. Here’s what to look for and where to get them.
More: With April 8 solar eclipse coming, NJ doctors talk about eye damage, best ways to watch
North Jersey, here’s where you can go to a have a great view of the April eclipse
If you're up for a road trip, cities within the path of totality closest to North Jersey include Buffalo and Syracuse in New York; Burlington, Vermont; and Erie, Pennsylvania, each roughly a four to six-hour drive from the area. Residents willing to travel farther can head to major cities like Dallas, Cleveland and Indianapolis.
What’s the best time to view the solar eclipse? Browse by ZIP code
USA TODAY compiled a database of the best times to view the eclipse based on your ZIP code. Check out this graphic for calculations for your town.
Check out these solar eclipse events in New Jersey scheduled for April 8
Even though New Jersey is not in the eclipse's direct path, there are multiple events around the state that you can attend for a fun and educational experience. Keep an eye out for tickets at places like the Liberty Science Center website.
More: Viewing glasses, watch parties: Is your child's NJ school ready for the eclipse?
It's not just the eclipse. You might see ‘devil comet,’ other cosmic treats
Other astronomical rarities will be visible in the darkened sky. Things you wouldn't normally see in the daytime. Things you might not see, ever. The rare spectacle of Baily's Beads. Four − count 'em − planets. And not least, the diabolical "devil comet." But be aware: You have to go to where the eclipse is total, not partial.
Continues below map
Think the solar eclipse is thrilling? To our ancestors, it was terrifying
Think of it as if you were an ancient Mesopotamian. Or someone from the Zhou Dynasty. Someone with no almanacs, no search engines. No science, as we know it today.
How loudly would you scream? What would you sacrifice? What would you promise the gods if they would only please, please, not leave the world in darkness? "It was pretty terrifying to many cultures," said Gallagher, of the Raritan Valley Community College planetarium. "People would be absolutely terrified that the sun was starting to disappear and they didn't understand why."
NJ’s next total solar eclipse is in 2079. But these other eclipses are coming soon
Don’t think you have to wait until 2079 for some celestial entertainment over North Jersey skies. There are plenty of other partial solar eclipses − as well as total and partial lunar eclipses −that North Jersey will experience over the next two decades. Here's the list.
In NJ, Wiccans and witches have big plans for 'supercharged' energy of the solar eclipse
The number of Americans who identify as Wiccans, witches or with other branches of paganism has been growing. They see the eclipse as a source of powerful energy and will greet it with meditation, rituals and prayer. "It is a time supercharged for transformation," said Hackensack's Alexa Branco.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Solar eclipse in NJ: 2024 guide to the full experience in New Jersey
