64 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • AUGUST 17, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Here’s how you can safely view next week’s
‘Great American Solar Eclipse’ in Queens
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
Grab your special glasses and stay
away from any mysterious plants — a
solar eclipse is on its way.
Many will travel across the United
States just to get the perfect view of
this nationwide phenomena, which is
being dubbed the “Great American Solar
Eclipse,” on Aug. 21. It’s the fi rst time
in 47 years that a total eclipse will pass
over the continental U.S.; the last occurrence
was on March 7, 1970, and 96 percent
of the sun was blocked during that
cosmic event.
However, you need not to travel too
far to catch a glimpse of a near-total
eclipse, where the moon will cover nearly
75 percent of the sun.
Locally, the near-total eclipse will be
visible in Queens starting at 1:23 p.m.
and ending at around 4 p.m. Th e peak
of the near-total eclipse, which will last
approximately two minutes, will take
place at 2:44 p.m.
Th e most important thing you can do
when watching the solar eclipse is to
protect your eyes. Staring at the sun is
dangerous on a normal day; doing so
during a solar eclipse risks major visual
injury. Normal sunglasses won’t help,
either. You’ll need to pick up a special
pair of eclipse viewing glasses, which can
be removed for the peak of the eclipse,
that will protect your eyes during the
partial phases of the eclipse.
Th ere are number of places where you
can pick up a pair of special eclipse glasses,
including your local Best Buy store
(locations in Elmhurst, Long Island City
and Flushing), Lowe’s (253-01 Rockaway
Blvd., Rosedale), and Walmart.
Th e Queens Library is hosting solar
eclipse-related events during August,
including eclipse viewing parties on
the day of, at many of their branches
throughout the borough. Many of
the events will include arts and craft s,
solar eclipse education and your very
own pair of special eclipse glasses. Visit
queenslibrary.org to fi nd an event near
you.
Th ere are plenty of places in Queens
where you can view the near-total
eclipse. For a view without any obstructions,
head over to Flushing Meadows
Corona Park, Alley Pond Park or
Highland Park.
If you catch a really cool picture of
this year’s eclipse, show us by sending
them to editorial@qns.com, tagging us
on Instagram (@qnsgram) or send them
to us on Twitter (@QNS).