Anticipation is building this weekend for Monday's eclipse. Meteorologist John Davitt takes a look at the science behind the celestial event.
Although New York will be on the edge of the great American eclipse, there is still plenty of excitement here.
Faissal Halim, a board member of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, is looking forward to Monday.
"I know every eclipse chaser I've ever met so far has spoken volumes about how's that changes them," Halim told me. "So, it's going to be a tremendously important event."
The eclipse begins in the city at 1:23 Monday afternoon as the moon passes between the sun and earth, casting a shadow over much of the United States. It will end at 4 p.m.
The peak in New York will be at 2:44 p.m., when 71 percent of the sun will be covered.
"It's going to look like something came and ate away part of the sun," Halim said.
Halim showed NY1 his solar telescope, which will allow him to view the eclipse safely. Safety viewing the celestial event is a big concern for people.
"Any part of the sun that is exposed is 10,000 times as bright as a full moon," Halim said. "With a full moon, if you look at it through a telescope it, you could hurt yourself. You could burn your eyes."
And what about those eclipse glasses? How do you know if yours are safe?
"Make sure there's an ISO rating for them," Halim said. "If you get your eclipse glasses, hold them against a light; not a flash light, a light bulb, like something you'd use in a projector, and if any light goes through, then forget it, throw them away."
The last total eclipse in New York took place in 1925, and the next one will be in 2079. But if you can't wait that long, you could start planning a trip.
"The next one's in Patagonia in 2019. So if you're a skier or a snow boarder, go there," Halim said. "It's in June, which means winter for them. So have a day of eclipse and enjoy the rest of your trip skiing, snowboarding, whatever."
Halim and other amateur astronomers will be at Pioneer Works in Red Hook in Brooklyn on Monday with a viewing party, one of the many being held around the city.