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Not seen with the naked eye: NYC forecast calls for a partial solar eclipse
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 12, 2026
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 12, 2026
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New York City will be in the path of a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday – but anyone hoping to catch a glimpse shouldn’t look with their naked eye.
The sun over the five boroughs will be partially covered by the moon from about 1:07 p.m. until 2:38 p.m., with peak coverage at about 1:53 p.m., according to NASA.
Just under 10% of the sun will be covered by the moon, which will not make a noticeable difference in the amount of visible light or the shadows the sun casts.
Those who do want to observe the celestial phenomenon must only look at the sun through safe solar viewing glasses or a handheld solar viewer. NASA scientists warn that camera lenses, binoculars, telescopes and sunglasses – no matter how dark – are not safe ways to look at the sun and can lead to severe eye damage.
Another way to safely observe the partial eclipse is to use an indirect viewing method – like punching a small pinhole through a paper plate and allowing the sun to project its light through the hole and onto a nearby surface. It is not safe to look directly at the sun through the pinhole.
The last major solar eclipse visible from New York City happened in April 2024, when about 90% of the sun was covered. The path of totality was further upstate. The next major eclipse visible from the five boroughs is expected to take place in 2044.
Wednesday’s eclipse will be more dramatic in the Arctic, North Atlantic and parts of Europe. The path of totality begins in northern Siberia, travels south through the Arctic and North Atlantic, and passes over Iceland and Spain. The rest of Europe and parts of North America and Africa will see a partial eclipse.
The weather over New York City is forecast to be sunny and hot on Wednesday afternoon, with highs in the 80s.
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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