It’s an event that always makes front page headlines: A total eclipse of the Sun! And one is coming our way on April 8th.

THE SUN WILL DARKEN APRIL 8TH: Mark Monday, April 8th, 2024, on your calendar as “Solar Eclipse Day,” for if the weather is fair, you should have no difficulty observing a partial or even total eclipse of the sun from much of North America. Eclipses of the Sun and Moon are dramatic natural events which have been described in records going back for centuries in many civilizations. Ancient astronomers discovered certain cycles of occurrence of eclipses, which then allowed prediction. Accurate prediction could command power and prestige. In this presentation we’ll examine the mechanics of what causes eclipses as well as how you can safely observe and enjoy this amazing astronomical event.

Joe Rao was an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon FiOS1 News.  Prior to that, he was the Chief Meteorologist for News 12 Westchester and Hudson Valley. Since 1986, Joe has also served as an associate astronomer and guest lecturer at New York’s famous Rose Center for Earth and Space at theHayden Planetarium.