Solar Eclipse Viewings and Activities in the New York Area

By Samantha Neudorf August 18, 2017

For the first time in 99 years, the solar eclipse will be visible to the entire continental United States on Monday, August 21. Here’s how you can celebrate this rare occurrence in the New York area.

A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun. For the first time since 1918, this year’s solar eclipse will be visible to the entire continental United States and will cross through the West and East coasts on Monday, August 21. Though New York is not in the line of path to see the total eclipse, we will be treated to a partial eclipse, with the best view at around 2:40pm EST.

If you want to see the total solar eclipse, it will be viewable in select areas of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

To celebrate this rare occurrence, many New York institutions are hosting special events and viewing parties to see this amazing sight—just make sure to wear special eclipse glasses to protect your eyes! Here are all of the family-friendly events happening in the New York area, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester County, and Long Island:

Solar Eclipse Activities in Manhattan

FREE Astronomy: Understanding Eclipses
WHEN: Sunday, August 13, 2-3pm
WHERE: Payson Center, Inwood Hill Park, Payson Avenue and Dyckman Street, Inwood
AGES: All
WHAT: Jason Kendall of the Amateur Astronomer Association will present facts on solar eclipses and viewing tips in preparation for this rare occasion.
WANT TO GO? 212-772-0210. nycgovparks.org.

FREE Summer Stories and STEAM
WHEN: August 10-17, Thursdays, 3pm
WHERE: Inwood Library, 4790 Broadway, Inwood
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Join in for stories and a STEAM craft project from marble painting to making "moon" sand in time for the eclipse on August 21.
WANT TO GO? 212-942-2445. nypl.org/locations/inwood.

FREE Crafty Afternoons: Solar Eclipse Craft
WHEN: Friday, August 18, 3pm
WHERE: Columbus Library, 742 Tenth Ave., Hell’s Kitchen
AGES: All
WHAT: Make a craft to celebrate the solar eclipse.
WANT TO GO? 212-586-5098. nypl.org/locations/columbus.

Hayden Special Event: Total Solar Eclipse
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 12-3pm
WHERE: Hayden Planetarium Space Theater, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT: Head to the AMNH to watch NASA's live broadcast of the Total Solar Eclipse and learn more about this rare celestial event.
WANT TO GO? $27; $22 seniors and students; $16 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 212-769-5100. amnh.org.

BOGO Solar Eclipse MAGNUM Bar
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 1-4pm
WHERE: MAGNUM New York, 875 Washington St., Meatpacking District
AGES: All
WHAT: Buy one get one bar free for the solar eclipse. Guests can try the limited-edition Solar Eclipse MAGNUM Bar with edible 24k gold flakes, or can customize their own creations with exclusively “dark toppings,” such as dark chocolate crisp pearls, black lava sea salt, chopped brownie bits, and espresso sugar.
WANT TO GO? $8 one bar. magnumicecreamus.com.

Solar Eclipse Activities in Brooklyn

Celestial Exploration
WHEN: August 19-20, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4:45pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave.
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Join this celebration of outer space by highlighting the solar eclipse and Aviation Day on August 21. Explore the sky through interactive science activities. Bring home a full day of expansive fun and interstellar memories.
WANT TO GO? $11. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.

FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 1:30-4pm
WHERE: Clinton Hill Library, 380 Washington Ave., Clinton Hill
AGES: All
WHAT: Come make a pinhole viewer and decorate the sidewalk with chalk drawings of your favorite planets or constellations.
WANT TO GO? 718-398-8713. bklynlibrary.org/locations/clinton-hill.

Solar Eclipse Activities in Queens

FREE Brick Builders: Solar Eclipse
WHEN: Tuesday, August 15, 2-3pm
WHERE: Glendale Library, 78-60 73rd Place, Glendale
AGES: 4-12
WHAT: Join us for a special solar eclipse-themed Brick Builders and help make a model of the sun and moon using Lego bricks.
WANT TO GO? 718-821-4980. queenslibrary.org/branch/glendale.

FREE Summer Reading Club: Solar Eclipse
WHEN: Wednesday, August 16, 2-3pm
WHERE: Glendale Library, 78-60 73rd Place, Glendale
AGES: 4-12
WHAT: In celebration of the upcoming solar eclipse, we will read Marcus Pfister's The Sun and Moon and create solar eclipse and sun/moon paintings.
WANT TO GO? 718-821-4980. queenslibrary.org/branch/glendale.

FREE Watch the Solar Eclipse
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 1:30-3pm
WHERE: Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St., Flushing
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: Our eclipse program begins in the Flushing Auditorium with videos and information on the eclipse for families. We will distribute solar eclipse glasses and invite you to join us on the Outdoor Plaza to witness this historical event.
WANT TO GO? 718-661-1200. queenslibrary.org/branch/flushing.

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 2-3pm
WHERE: Seaside Library, 116-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway Park
AGES: All
WHAT: Learn about the solar eclipse, enjoy a little trivia, and view the solar eclipse with us on the boardwalk. The library will provide viewing glasses to all participants.
WANT TO GO? 718-634-1876. queenslibrary.org/branch/seaside.

Solar Eclipse Celebration
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 2-3pm
WHERE: Glendale Library, 78-60 73rd Place, Glendale
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Learn about the sun and why solar eclipses occur; make time capsule art cards; and decorate your own cookie model of the sun.
WANT TO GO? 718-821-4980. queenslibrary.org/branch/glendale.

FREE Eclipsecon
WHEN: August 14-28, Mondays, 5-7pm
WHERE: Bayside Library, 214-20 Northern Blvd., Bayside
AGES: 13 and older
WHAT: In anticipation for the solar eclipse, the library will be showing movies that feature solar eclipses. Watch Pitch Black on August 7; The Mummy on August 14; and Hellboy on August 28.
WANT TO GO? 718-229-1834. queenslibrary.org/branch/bayside.

Solar Eclipse Activities in Westchester County

FREE The Great American Eclipse Viewing Workshop
WHEN: Saturday, August 12, 2pm
WHERE: Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library, 2147 Barnes Ave., Bronx
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT: Come join Jupiter Joe and learn all about the Great American Eclipse that will be visible across the entire United States. Learn how to view the sun safely during the eclipse and how you can view the total eclipse.
WANT TO GO? 718-829-5864. nypl.org /locations/pelham-parkway-van-nest.

FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 2:30pm
WHERE: West Farms Library, 2085 Honeywell Ave.; Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library, 2147 Barnes Ave., Bronx
AGES: All
WHAT: Join us for activities, crafts, and watch the 2017 solar eclipse at the library. Free eclipse viewing safety glasses will be provided.
WANT TO GO? 718-367-5376. nypl.org.

Solar Eclipse Activities in Long Island

The Great North American Eclipse: Solar Viewing and Activities
WHEN: Monday, August 21, 12-4pm
WHERE: Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate the sun with activities such as a hands-on science zone with experiments to better understand the solar eclipse; learn about how to safely view the eclipse; and take part in sealing a memory in a time capsule that will be opened in seven years during the next Long Island eclipse.
WANT TO GO? $15; $13 children ages 2-12. 516-572-4111. cradleofaviation.org.

Photo by NASA/Romeo Durscher

Explore the Night Sky Inside at Planetariums