Solar Eclipse
Hamilton College and the rest of Upstate New York will have a front-row seat to the biggest astronomical event of the year: the Great American Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.
It’s a Dark Side Takeover!
Those outside the path of totality — as we are in Clinton — will experience the sky taking on a dim and eerie appearance throughout much of the afternoon. After April 8, the next total solar eclipse visible in the Empire State will be in 2079.
Eclipse Timeline for the Hill
Monday, April 8
Total Duration: 2 hours, 25 minutes
2:10 p.m.: Eclipse begins
3:24:45 p.m. Peak eclipse in Clinton (99.4% coverage)
4:35 p.m.: Eclipse ends
Campus Viewing Party
Monday, April 8 – 1:30 p.m.
Burke Library
This will be the best place to be on Monday afternoon, without a shadow of a doubt! Telescopes, proper eclipse goggles, and pinhole viewers, information about the eclipse, and celebratory light snacks will be available. Your families are welcome!
Off-campus Total Eclipse Viewing
Monday, April 8
White-Otter Fish & Game Club
10914 Woodgate Rd.
Woodgate, N.Y. 13494
Associate Professor of Instruction for Physics Adam Lark is hosting an event at the White-Otter Fish and Game Club to view the total eclipse. While seats on the bus are no longer available, campus community members are invited to drive themselves to the venue.
Eclipse glasses and telescope viewing will be available, and families and friends are welcome! Be prepared to be outside for multiple hours and dress accordingly for the weather. Please pack any snacks/water you may need for the afternoon and be sure to charge your electronic devices. Portable lavatories will be available on site.
Please note that while parking will be available, the roads to the Adirondacks will be busy and delays are likely. Please carpool to the best of your ability and be prepared to be late on your journey in and out of the Adirondacks.
Traveling into the Path of Totality?
If you plan to travel to a destination where you can view the total eclipse, please be aware those areas are expecting their populations to swell – in some cases, to nearly double – in the days surrounding the eclipse (April 5-9). New York State Police and other agencies have shared guidelines for travelers.
Traffic jams in the hours following the total eclipse are likely, which could lead to stranded drivers, delayed response times for people in distress, and a spike in 911 calls. The influx of people to the region could cause increased demand for food, water, and fuel.
Should inclement weather occur, be mindful that out-of-area visitors may be driving in weather conditions they are unfamiliar with.
This will assist emergency responders in the event you need to be located.
Provide this person a list of who will be in your party as well as their cell phone numbers.
Bring extra chargers with you.
Drivers of electric cars should have at least 10 hours of battery life to leave the area safely.
Bring water and non-perishable foods with you.
In addition to food and water, pack warm clothing, blankets, waterproof outerwear, and a flashlight.
Avoid stopping on controlled access highways unless there is an emergency.
Additional Related Events
Art Exhibition: René Treviño: Stab of Guilt
Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wellin Museum of Art
The exhibition offers an exuberant selection of works with wide-ranging themes that illuminate the artist’s colorful and complex aesthetic. Included among the new work on display are 20 mixed-media collages that incorporate imagery from 19th-century star charts made by C.H.F. Peters, Hamilton’s first professor of astronomy.
Webinar: Ask Me About the Solar Eclipse
Wednesday, April 3 - 7 p.m. EDT
Associate Professor of Instruction for Physics Adam Lark will prepare us for this stellar event by providing background on the science of the solar eclipse, offering suggestions on how adults and children can safely view it, and sharing what the College plans to do for students and staff for the syzygy.
Wellin Kids | Solar Eclipse Suncatchers
Saturday, April 6 – 2 p.m.
Wellin Museum of Art
Come look at art, explore art materials, and make a creative project as a family. Inspired by René’s Treviño’s astronomical art and the upcoming solar eclipse, this week we will create suncatchers that emulate the moon’s path across the sun.
Wellin Kids programs draw inspiration from original works of art and provide an opportunity to experiment. This event is recommended for families and children ages 5 and up.
Eclipse Viewing Tips
Courtesy of Associate Professor of Instruction for Physics Adam Lark
Solar eclipse glasses are required to view the Sun safely.
Directly observing the Sun, even when it is 99% eclipsed, poses a significant risk to eye health, and ordinary sunglasses are inadequate for protection.
If you purchased your own glasses, please check to ensure they are real before viewing the Sun. Real eclipse glasses will have a note about the international standard somewhere on their body, according to the American Astronomical Society.
Check the arm for the "ISO 12312-2" label. The standard may also be written as "ISO 12312-2:2015.”. Either designation means that the glasses will block light and radiation. The label may be on the flat or curved part of the arm.
- Learn more about viewing the eclipse safely, or suggestions on alternative ways to view the eclipse.
Safeguard your camera’s optics and sensors.
Just like your eyes, your camera’s equipment can be damaged by the intense rays of the sun without proper protection. Put solar filter paper or your solar eclipse glasses over the lens of your camera when photographing the eclipse.
