LIBERTY, NY — The Sullivan Catskills region is gearing up for an extraordinary celestial event: a rare solar eclipse on April 8. 

Residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to witness the breathtaking phenomenon.

A total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. 

In the Sullivan Catskills, we can expect about 93-94 percent of the sun to be covered.

Safety is the number-one priority when viewing a total solar eclipse. According to NASA, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Be familiar with when specialized eye protection, designed for solar viewing, is needed. Review safety guidelines on the NASA website, https://science.nasa.gov/.

The Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) will have eclipse viewing glasses to hand out for free on a first-come, first-served basis. The visitor's center is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located at 15 Sullivan Ave #1. Stop by the Visitors Center this week, sign up for our email list and get a free pair of glasses.

You will have the opportunity to view the partial solar eclipse with Catskills Astronomy at SUNY Sullivan on April 8 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. John Kocijanski from Catskills Astronomy will be on hand with solar-filtered telescopes that will allow you to safely observe the sun. 

“Any time you can get people out to enjoy what’s going on in the sky, it’s a plus,” said Kocijanski. 

For more information call the SCVA at 845/747-4449. 

Contributed by the SCVA.