On April 8th, 2024, Hampton, New York will be in for a treat as we experience a once-in-a-lifetime event—a near-total solar eclipse.
Next Monday, the moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the sun’s rays and casting a shadow on the Earth. The result is surreal—the sky turns dark, stars become visible, an eerie silence descends, and the sun’s corona (outer atmosphere) appears to the naked eye—a glowing white halo made up of superheated gases, visible around the darkened moon. This spectacle will be visible from many parts of North America, including the Panorama Motel in Hampton.
The last time our area of New York and Vermont experienced a total solar eclipse was in 1925. Eclipse chasers and curious observers have been planning for this one for years!
How close is the Panorama Motel to the “Path of Totality”?
The path of totality for the 2024 Solar Eclipse will stretch across North America—beginning in Mexico, and going through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and central and northern Vermont before crossing into Canada.
Right here in Hampton, we’ll have a partial eclipse, being slightly south of the path of totality—but with our nearly unobstructed mountain views at the Panorama, for the two hours while the moon makes its transit, including almost 3 minutes of near-total eclipse, the experience will be awe-inspiring.
What is the timing of the partial eclipse in Hampton, NY and Poultney, VT?
Starting around 2:13 pm EST, the moon’s shadow will begin to fall over us as it moves eastward at over 1,000 miles per hour. By around 3:27 pm, the nearly-total eclipse will occur here in Hampton—creating a surreal mid-afternoon twilight.
The duration of the partial, or total eclipse at any given location depends on its position within the path. In Hampton, observers can expect around two and a half minutes of 99.1% darkness at peak, before light gradually returns by about 4:37 pm.
What is the best way to view a solar eclipse?
So, how can you make the most of the 2024 Solar Eclipse? Well, first and foremost, make sure you have the right equipment. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Sunglasses and most self-made filters do NOT make viewing the eclipse safe! Use only certified solar eclipse glasses or a specialized solar filter for cameras and telescopes (even your camera can be damaged by direct exposure to the Sun).
The safest way to view the Sun’s disk is by indirect projection. This can be done by projecting an image of the disk onto a white piece of paper or card using a pair of binoculars (with one of the lenses covered), a telescope, or another piece of cardboard with a small hole in it (about 1 mm diameter), often called a pinhole camera. The projected image of the Sun can then be safely viewed; this technique can be used to observe sunspots, as well as eclipses. Care must be taken, however, to ensure that no one looks through the projector (telescope, pinhole, etc.) directly. A kitchen colander with small holes can also be used to project multiple images of the partially eclipsed Sun onto the ground or a viewing screen….
Eclipse glasses filter out eye-damaging radiation, allowing direct viewing of the Sun during all partial eclipse phases; they are not used during totality, when the Sun is completely eclipsed.
—Solar eclipse via Wikipedia
Keep in mind that here at the Panorama, we will have only a partial (99%+) eclipse, so taking off protective eyewear is NOT recommended, even at near-total peak in this area.
How can we make a long weekend out of our eclipse-vacation?
Total solar eclipses often occur over remote locations or vast bodies of water. To have one happen so close to home so exciting—definitely something that should not be missed.
Of course, we believe that the Panorama Motel is the perfect place for your long-weekend getaway, at eclipse time or any time. But even if you can’t make it to the Panorama, you’ll find that all around the Slate Valley and Lakes region, and continuing up north to Plattsburgh NY, Lake Champlain, Burlington VT, and through the Canadian border, New York’s Adirondack Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains will both offer stunning vistas and elevated viewpoints that will enhance your eclipse viewing experience.
Additionally, there are several planned events and activities surrounding the eclipse, including organized eclipse viewing parties, educational seminars, and even helicopter tours for a bird’s-eye view of the phenomenon. Be sure to do your research and plan accordingly to make the most of your day.
A reminder—Road safety during the 2024 Solar Eclipse
And please be safe on the roads on April 8—don’t try to watch while driving, and don’t pull over on highways! As Vermont’s special eclipse web page says, “Make sure the place you are planning to watch the eclipse is safe, open, accessible, and welcoming visitors.”
Experience idyllic upstate New York and Vermont this April—Come for the eclipse, stay for spring beauty!
The 2024 solar eclipse over New York and Vermont will be unforgettable—how many natural events can *truly* be called once in a lifetime?
There are plenty of live-streams and webcasts planned for those who want to witness the phenomenon from home. But if you do happen to find yourself near upstate New York or central/ northern Vermont during this time—I highly recommend making your way over to experience this eclipse firsthand!
Image credit: Yurakum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons—Solar eclipse
Graphics credits (Totality in North America, closeup on Hampton, NY, timing of 2024 Solar Eclipse in 12837: USA Today
Other research via NASA: 2024 Total Eclipse: What To Expect