Beware Star Power
New Yorkers will see only a 70 percent solar eclipse Monday — but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still in danger of suffering serious eye damage or blindness from it, state health officials warned Friday.
“The solar eclipse is a spectacular event that rarely occurs, so it is only natural that people will want to view it,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.
“But it can also damage your eyes, so we are urging people to use extreme caution and only look at a solar eclipse if you have eyewear with a special solar filter.”
The sun won’t be any brighter Monday than it is any other day. But people aren’t typically able to stare directly at the star for extended ded periods of time becausecause of the brightness.s. With the eclipse, thee phenomenon makes thee sun easier to look at — but its rays are still just ass dangerous.
Staring att the sun for 100 seconds canan damage retinas, which could cause an inability to see colors s or even perrmanent blindness, experts say. y.
Planetary programming
Where better to watch the solar eclipse than the Hayden Planetarium? Science center educator Brian Levine will kick things off with a talk, followed by a group viewing outside. Entry is free with museum admission (pay what you wish), but bring your own eclipse viewing glasses.
Noon. Cullman Hall of the Universe, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street; AMNH.org
Library lookout
The New York Public Library welcomes visitors to watch the eclipse from its Pelham Bay campus. Peak of totality arrives at 2:44 p.m., but arrive early to snag a pair of free viewing glasses.
2:30 p.m. Pelham Bay Library, 3060 Middletown Road, The Bronx; NYPL.org
Do as the astronomers do
Red Hook’s Pioneer Works will team with the Amateur Astronomers Association of NY for a free public viewing in the exhibition space’s garden. It will even supply viewing glasses and telescopes with proper solar filters for some pro-level eclipse gazing. 1 p.m. Pioneer Works, 159 Pioneer St., Brooklyn; PioneerWorks.org
Eclipse eats
Celebrate with tacos (because why not?) at Salvation Taco on its Pod 39 Hotel rooftop. Cap them off with the aptly titled, $10 drink specials “Tequila Eclipse of the Heart” and “Overthe-Moon.”
Noon. Salvation Taco, 145 E. 39th St.; SalvationTaco.com
Celestial celebration
You can see the sights from Brooklyn’s 1 Hotel’s rooftop for free. Or buy into a $35 party package: one “Frozen Eclipse” cocktail, a lobster roll and eclipse eyewear. You can also score the latter with any full-price drink. Reservations suggested: ian@1dumbo.com.
11 a.m. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, 60 Furman St., Brooklyn; 1Hotels.com/ Brooklyn-Bridge Reach for the sun
Lovage’s rooftop promises unobstructed eclipse views, along with a few other classic NYC sights such as the Empire State building, Lady Liberty and the Hudson — a tourist’s dream! A $12 entry fee gets you a pair of solar glasses and a “Solar Eclipse of My Heart” cocktail. Noon. Lovage Rooftop, 350 W. 40th St.; LovageNYC.com