Cradle Of Aviation Hosting Special Eclipse-Watching Event

The Cradle of Aviation museum in Garden City is going to be hosting a special eclipse-watching event on Aug. 21 to celebrate the first time in more than 100 years that a solar eclipse will be visible across the entire country.

Here on Long Island, the eclipse will have about 70 percent totality, which will still make for an amazing sight. Experts say it will be akin to sunset in the middle of the day.

To celebrate the historic event, the Cradle of Aviation will be hosting an afternoon of activities, from 12 to 4 p.m. The activities include the Hands-on Science Zone, which will have experiments to help better understand the eclipse. There will be educators on hand to demonstrate different ways to safely view the eclipse, provide giveaways and offer visitors a chance to seal memories in a time capsule to be opened in seven years, during the next Long Island eclipse.

Guests will also be able to make a pinhole camera to watch the eclipse, as well as view it through special eclipse-viewing glasses.

• Click here for the latest on Eclipse Day weather and what to expect from the celestial phenomenon, as well as for more viewing locations across Long Island.

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and eclipse activities are from noon to 4 p.m. The eclipse starts at 1:23 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

All of the eclipse events are free with museum admission. The Cradle of Aviation is located on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, across from the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex. For more information, call (516)572-4066.

Photo: NASA