On Monday, April 8, 2024 between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM the Jersey Shore will experience a Near Total Solar Eclipse. We will be able to see approximately 90% coverage in Toms River. The Novins Planetarium at OCC will be hosting a viewing event. In addition to distributing free safe viewing supplies, there will also be music, food to purchase, science activities for the family, and more. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and sunscreen. See additional details below!
Due to the enthusiastic response to this event, we have hit our registration capacity. If you have not already registered, please utilize the free resources on this page to learn about safely watching the eclipse in your yard or a nearby park!
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the moon’s orbit brings it between the earth and the sun, appearing to partially or completely cover the sun in the sky. Technically, the moon does this every month (new moon phase), however, only rarely do all three bodies line up completely enough to cause an eclipse. Our view in Toms River will be a partial view. The closest to the Jersey Shore you’ll be able to view the total solar eclipse is northwest PA and NY, about 5-6 hours away by car.
Our Eclipse will be PARTIAL in NJ. While the path of Totality is North of us in NY for this eclipse, we will have excellent near-totality viewing for this eclipse in Toms River. We will see a very thin crescent sun at the maximum of this solar eclipse. The moon will provide almost 90% coverage over the sun at the maximum.
Begins: 2:09 p.m.
Maximum: 3:24 p.m.
End: 4:36 p.m.
*times provided from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@4504476?iso=20240408
Solar Eclipse Safe Viewing
It is important to use proper safety and equipment when viewing the solar eclipse. Reminder – even if there are clouds, there is NO time during the eclipse that it is safe to look at the sun without approved Solar Glasses or using an indirect method! View our Eclipse Safety Guide below to learn how to safely view the eclipse!
Free Near Total Solar Eclipse Event
Due to the enthusiastic response to this event, we have hit our registration capacity. If you have not already registered, please utilize the free resources on this page to learn about safely watching the eclipse in your yard or a nearby park!
Event Start: 2:00 PM
Eclipse Maximum: 3:24 PM
Event Ends: 5:00 PM
Where to park: Parking Lot 2. If Parking Lot 2 is full, utilize Parking Lot 3
What to bring: A beach chair or blanket, sunscreen, money (cash) for food and gift shop (optional).
What not to bring: Backpacks, large bags, coolers, and umbrellas are prohibited on campus during the event. All other bags are subject to search. No alcoholic beverages, smoking, or vaping of any kind is permitted on campus.
What to expect: We will be handing out free solar eclipse glasses and educating the public about the eclipse. There will be information tables, free craft activities for families, music, and snacks for purchase. Free glasses are made possible through the support of the OCC Foundation.
Bathrooms will be available in the Novins Planetarium (Bldg. 13), the Grunin Center for the Arts (Bldg. 11A), and the Larson Student Center (Bldg. 8).
For those that do not wish to stay outside, we will be livestreaming the eclipse in the Novins Planetarium (Bldg. 13) and the Larson Student Center (Bldg. 8).
What about the weather? There is a good chance there will be some clouds the day of the eclipse. Clouds will not prevent our event from happening. In the event of rain, we will be livestreaming the eclipse in the Novins Planetarium (Bldg. 13) and the Larson Student Center (Bldg. 8).
If you want to experience a total solar eclipse, you will have to go to the path of totality. The closest to the Jersey Shore the path will be is in northwest PA and NY. You can see the path of totality on this map: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/
Image courtesty of NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
We will see a partial solar eclipse from Toms River on April 8, about 90% coverage of the sun at maximum. It will still be very exciting experience – but not the same as the sun “disappearing” from the sky. Because it is a partial eclipse – there is NO time during the eclipse that it is safe to look at the sun without approved Solar Glasses or using an indirect method! We’ll be distributing free approved Solar Glasses to guests who join us on April 8th for the event, made possible by support from the OCC Foundation.
