Get Free Total Eclipse Glasses Here In Western New York

There is a total solar eclipse that will pass across the United States in 2024.  If you want to be prepared, you can pick up some glasses for free.

When is the solar eclipse happening?

If you haven't already heard, there is a total solar eclipse that will pass over the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2024.  That means that the moon will pass between the earth and the moon.  It will totally block the face of the sun and will leave the earth in partial darkness as it makes its pass.  The exact date is April 8th, 2024.

Where will the best place to "view" it be?

The eclipse will actually begin to be seen first in the South Pacific and then it will move in a north-east path across the United States.  One of the peak places to see it will be right here in Buffalo.

NASA has even plotted out a timeline of when we will see it here in Buffalo with the partial eclipse happening at 2:04 pm.  "Totality" or total eclipse will happen between 3:18 pm and 3:22 pm with the maximum or the peak of the eclipse happening at 3:20 pm.

How do I get some glasses to protect myself and still see it?

You can see in the paragraph above it says Where will the best place to "view" it be?  The reason view is in quotes is because you shouldn't really look at the sun.  It's bad for your eyes to look directly into the sun, even (and especially) during an eclipse.

However, there are glasses that have been specially designed that will help you to see the eclipse a little safer than just gazing into it.  They are available (while supplies last) at all 37 branches of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.  They are free of charge.  All you have to do is go in and ask for them!