Welcome to the Berkshires Macaroni Kid Guide for the 2024 Solar Eclipse! While we may not be in the path of totality, on Monday, April 8th, Berkshire County still offers fantastic opportunities to witness the celestial spectacle. Check out local events where you can safely view the partial eclipse, from community gatherings to specialized viewing parties.
Don't forget to grab your eclipse glasses to protect your eyes during the event! There are many local places selling or providing free glasses. If you're feeling crafty, why not try making your own pinhole viewer? It's a simple and safe DIY project that allows you to indirectly view the eclipse. Just follow our step-by-step instructions here. The next solar eclipse for our area will not occur for 55 years, on May 1, 2079. That seems like a long time from now, so let’s enjoy this one!
If you are unable to safely be outside during the eclipse, you can visit the NASA website to see the path of the solar eclipse and view a livestream of the eclipse hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Pre-Eclipse Talk at North Adams Public Library
Visit NAPL on Thursday, April 4th to join Dr. Bob Donahue, Mt. Wilson Observatory astronomer and member of the Northern Berkshire Astronomical Society, for an engaging & interesting talk about 2024's Total Solar Eclipse! Topics discussed will include: What exactly is an eclipse? Why don’t eclipses happen every month? What will we see from North Adams? How can we safely observe the Total Solar Eclipse? 3rd floor community room. No registration is required. Any questions, please email Adult Services Librarian Ryan Miller at rmiller@northadams-ma.gov, or give us a call. 74 Church Street, North Adams.
Berkshire Athenaeum Eclipse Glasses & Teen Neon Party
Beginning Friday, April 5th, the Pittsfield Library will begin handing out glasses at every service desk at 9 a.m., and continue handing out glasses Saturday and Monday while supplies last. One pair of glasses per household, and glasses cannot be held for later pickup.They are also offering a few take-home kits leftover from the cereal box solar eclipse viewer craft! Ask at the Children's Desk for one of these kits while supplies last.
On Monday, April 8th, Teens are invited for a Teen Neon Party, from 2:45 – 5 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum. Teens 12 – 18 can view the cosmic event by watching a live-stream in the auditorium and then join us for a music-filled black light dance party with DJ Chris Plankey! There will be pizza, snacks, glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark slime making, board games, video games, and more! Come dressed in your neon best! This event meets in the auditorium. No registration required. For more information, please email Vanessa Justice, young adult librarian, at vanessa@pittsfieldlibrary.org or call the Berkshire Athenaeum’s Children’s Library at (413) 499-9480, ext. 5. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield.
Solar Eclipse Viewing with Rick Costello
Join everyone's favorite astronomer on Monday, April 8th, at the Great Barrington Mason Library to present a viewing of the solar eclipse. Rick will have 4 telescopes with solar filters set up and the library acquired a bunch of solar glasses to pass around for all to see this celestial event. The eclipse begins at 2:12pm, peaks at 3:25 and finishes at 4:36pm. From this location in GB, the moon will cover 94.5% of the sun. Mason Library, 231 Main Street, Great Barrington.
Eclipse Viewing Party at the Pittsfield Common
Monday, April 8th from 2-3 p.m. Glasses will NOT be provided, however, pick up your complimentary pair of glasses at the Pittsfield Public Library (one pair per household, while supplies lasts) starting Friday, April 5. Pittsfield Common, 100 First Street, Pittsfield. https://fb.me/e/1ZIIe945q
Listen to the Eclipse
Experience the solar eclipse through sound with assistive technology called the LightSound. Tool created for the Blind and Low Vision community to experience the eclipse by sound. April 8th from 3-4 p.m. For more info and to RSVP contact 413-422-1562 ext. 122. Outside in Front of the Clocktower Business Center, 75 South Church Street, Pittsfield.
Mount Greylock State Reservation
DCR is offering free eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last). For all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress warmly and bring a lawn chair. This is an outdoor event! This program is free and open to the public. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and join friends and neighbors outside on the Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center south lawn to watch this rare celestial event! Get a free pair of safe eclipse viewing glasses, while supplies last, or bring your own. Program Time: 2:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. ECLIPSE PEAK IS AT 3:30 P.M. For more information, call the Visitor Center at (413) 499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough. https://fb.me/e/4gcoGAefs
Naumkeag Eclipse Viewing
Visit the gardens of Naumkeag for a breathtaking view of the solar eclipse on April 8th. Admission will be charged per car, $10 for members, and $15 for nonmembers. Your ticket will grant you access to the property along with 2 pairs of eclipse viewing glasses per car. The outdoor cafe will be open, serving specialty cocktails and mocktails. You are welcome to bring your own food, but outside alcohol is not permitted. Please bring your own lawn chair or blanket as these will not be provided for you. Tickets can be purchased at https://thetrustees.org/event/416682/ or purchased at the door while capacity allows. 5 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge.
Taft Farms Picnic Area
For anyone interested in a viewing spot for the 2024 solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th, Taft Farms invites the public to use their picnic area. It is a short walk of about 1/4 mile from the store. The totality time will be from 2:27-3:35 pm, so they suggest giving yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to walk down. Eclipse glasses are available in the store, however they have been selling as fast as they get them in, so please be patient. It is not accessible by car, so park in the lot at the store and they will direct you on how to get there. Bring a folding chair if you’d like. No charge, and no purchase necessary. 119 Park Street N, Great Barrington.
Solar Eclipse at TurnPark
Join TurnPark on April 8th to experience the upcoming solar eclipse! We’ll provide hot chocolate and a campfire to level out the feeling of being lost in the universe and humanity’s insignificance. Bring your eye protection (we’ll have some sunglasses but not many) and whatever else you need to contemplate this amazing and rare event! The event is free but your donation to support the Park is greatly appreciated! PLEASE NOTE: The event will be held in case of clear weather! https://fb.me/e/4dW0v9K6s 2 Moscow Road, West Stockbridge.
Williams College Viewing Party
For the solar eclipse on April 8th, Williams Astronomy will be hosting events throughout the day, starting with eclipse viewing at the Historic Hopkins Observatory, located along Rt 2, from 2pm to 5pm. Within the planetarium they will project a live-stream from the path of totality and on the lawn outside of the observatory, we will have telescopes available for viewing the eclipse (weather permitting), which will reach 96% coverage of the Sun by the Moon at 3:27pm, but will be visible anytime between 2:13 pm and 4:37 pm. A limited number of eclipse glasses will also be available. Following the eclipse, (weather permitting) we will host a ‘lights-out’ event from 10 to 10:30pm on the science quad in which the outside lights will be temporarily turned off, allowing everyone a view of the night sky that is unaffected by light pollution. After marveling at the eclipse, join us to enjoy the night sky, including through a couple of our telescopes! Both events are free and open to the public. Parking near the historic observatory is very limited; larger parking lots are on the north side of Rt 2, near Thompson Memorial Chapel, and Sawyer Library. Telescope viewing for both events is weather dependent and we will send a Daily Message on April 8th with an update. https://events.williams.edu/event/daytime-eclipse-viewing-and-nighttime-lights-out-weather-permitting/
UMASS Amherst Solar Eclipse Viewing with UMASS Astronomy
Please join UMass Amherst Astronomy on April 8, 2024, to observe the solar eclipse which will reach 94.6% totality at our campus location on Earth. On this day, the peak of the eclipse in Amherst will be at 3:28pm. The College of Natural Sciences and the Astronomy department will distribute solar shades at two locations on campus while supplies last—the UMass Amherst Sunwheel and Metawampe Lawn. UMass astronomers will speak about the phenomenon at both campus viewing locations beginning around 2:15pm. 80 Campus Center Way, Amherst.
Did we miss something? Email your eclipse event to taylors@macaronikid.com
