A brief history (and foretelling) of solar eclipses visible from New York City

Through calculations based on knowledge gleaned by astronomers through the generations, NASA has been able to track every time a major solar eclipse has appeared (or will appear) over New York City and other geographic points around the world, from the recorded birth of Christ up to the year 3000.

Monday’s solar eclipse is one of 35 that will occur over the skies of the Big Apple this century. NASA estimates that each century in New York since year 1 A.D., and every century beyond this year, has (or will have) had anywhere from 35 to 49 solar eclipses, the vast majority of which are partial.

The last time New York City was in the path of a solar eclipse was three years ago, on June 10, 2021 — but it happened before sunrise, so it was almost impossible for anyone to enjoy. At its peak, 79.7% of the sun was obscured by the moon.

The April 8, 2024 eclipse will see more than 90% of the sun obscured over the five boroughs’ skies for the first time in nearly 40 years. On May 30, 1984, a major partial eclipse occurred between 11:23 a.m. and 2:28 p.m., with 93.4% of the sun blocked at 12:54 p.m.

But full totality of Monday’s solar eclipse occurred hundreds of miles north and west of New York City, in cities from San Antonio, Texas to Buffalo and Burlington, VT. The last time New York City saw complete totality during a solar eclipse was 99 years ago, when on the morning of Jan. 24, 1925, 99.9% of the sun was blocked at 9:11 a.m. The entire eclipse event lasted from 7:59 a.m. to 10:29 a.m.

It will be another 31 years before New York City experiences a total solar eclipse — and if you’re around for that, you’ll need to get up early in the morning to see it.

On May 1, 2079, 100% of the sun will be blocked out over the eastern skies of New York at 6:05 a.m. for 2 minutes, 8 seconds. The eclipse event will begin at 5:57 a.m. (at sunrise) and conclude at 6:56 a.m.

The next partial solar eclipse to take place in New York will be 24 years from now, on June 11, 2048. At its peak, at 7:23 a.m. that morning, 77.6% of the sun will be obscured.

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