2024 will bring a rare astronomical event to New York State. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will be visible over 29 counties in the western and northern parts of the state. People outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse of 88 percent to 99 percent.

The state is expecting a high volume of traffic, which is why officials are urging people to get to their destination early and stay late. They also recommend packing a lunch and snacks and staying hydrated. People are also being urged not to pull over on the side of the road, so that first responders can get through in an emergency.

"The April 8 eclipse is a once in a generation experience, and there's no better place to view it than in our beautiful state," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "New York is ready to welcome millions of visitors, and my administration has been working hard to ensure everyone in the path of the eclipse can safely enjoy this rare event. I encourage anyone traveling for this experience to plan on arriving early to their destination and staying late to enjoy all of what our state has to offer."

In addition to the traffic concerns, there are also concerns about safety. During the eclipse, it is especially unsafe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection and can result in serious injury. The partial phases of the solar eclipse can only be safely observed directly with specialized eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer. Regular sunglasses are not a safe replacement. On March 18, Governor Hochul launched a statewide effort to distribute limited-edition I LOVE NY eclipse glasses at 30 locations throughout the state. There is a limited amount of glasses available for distribution daily, and additional sources for eye protection are available here.

For more information on how to safely view the eclipse, click here: https://www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/glasses/