St. Lawrence Sets its Sights Higher for the Total Eclipse
In case you don’t already share the opinion that our gorgeous North Country campus occupies a special place in the Universe, consider this: St. Lawrence University will be among the fortunate few locations in North America within the “path of totality” during the total solar eclipse on the afternoon of April 8, 2024.
The utter darkness caused when the Moon passes in front of—and completely blocks out—the Sun will take the form of a narrow shadow cast upon the Earth along a 109-mile sliver, starting over Mexico and moving north through the United States—including Canton, New York— toward New Brunswick, Canada.
The University has been preparing to help students make the most of the historic astronomical moment, canceling late-afternoon classes with plans for an all-campus educational event complete with eclipse safety glasses, guided viewing of the skies through high-powered telescopes equipped with solar filters, and branded T-shirts and other gear to help commemorate the occasion.
Meanwhile, St. Lawrence County officials and businesses are readying for possibly tens of thousands of visitors to descend on the area. By early in the New Year, hotels and rentals were booking up fast. Local residents have been advised to fill their gas tanks and stock up on food and necessities so they can avoid crowded restaurants and stores and congested roadways.
“This is really exciting,” says Henry Priest Professor of Physics Aileen O’Donoghue, who teaches several astronomy courses. “During the approximately 3 minutes of totality, the Sun will be completely obscured by the Moon. It will get dark as night and the wind will pick up slightly. Dogs will bark, birds will start to roost, and insects will start to sing. We will not be able to view any of the surface of the Sun, however what you will see instead is the outer atmosphere of the Sun which is called the corona—hot ionized gas being blown off the Sun."
During the approximately 3 minutes of totality, the Sun will be completely obscured by the Moon. It will get dark as night and the wind will pick up slightly. Dogs will bark, birds will start to roost, and insects will start to sing."–Henry Priest Professor of Physics Aileen O’Donoghue
“And we’ve got about three minutes to enjoy seeing this part of the Sun that’s invisible to us most of the time,” O’Donoghue says. “And then the shadow moves on after it passes over us at 2,532 miles per hour.”
The last time totality crossed the northeastern portion of St. Lawrence County, O’Donoghue says, was on Sept. 10, 1569 (though the Gregorian calendar wasn’t even invented yet, so that date was not recorded as such). It won’t happen again over campus for another 375 years.
“This is not just a once-in-a-lifetime event, but rather a once-in-several-centuries event,” says Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs Alison Del Rossi.
In 2017, astronomy instructor Jeffrey Miller hosted viewing parties on campus for the partial eclipse and in 1994 for the annular eclipse, a phenomenon when the Moon is at its furthest point from the Earth in its orbit so that even though it’s centered in front of the Sun it doesn’t completely obscure it and instead leaves a ring of Sunlight visible around the Moon’s edges. Those eclipses were cool, Miller says, but he’s most looking forward to experiencing his first total solar eclipse: “I fully anticipate that it’s going to be an overwhelmingly moving experience.”
Total Solar Eclipse Info
We've gathered all of our resources and expert insights to create your very own total solar eclipse information hub. Stay up to date on what you can expect on April 8, read stories from our community, and even commemorate the out-of-this-world event with custom St. Lawrence merchandise.
