Solar Eclipse 2017 Draws Hundreds To Clinton Hill Library

CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN — Hundreds of people gathered outside the Brooklyn Public Library Monday afternoon to watch the moon slowly eclipse the sun.

The crowd as diverse as the neighborhood itself — a fact that several happy eclipse watchers noted with pride — and ages ranged from grandkids to grandmas.

Library staff handed out free eclipse-viewing glasses, but those ran out at least an hour before peak viewing time at around 2:45 p.m. But the lucky few were quick to offer up their solar specs to anyone without.

And the crowd came up with very creative means of viewing the the moon-shaped shadow. Allen Young put a pair of binoculars on a tripod, covered one lens with a folder, and reflected the image onto a white sheet of paper. Linda S. used a Wheaties box and James Lichter, 22, used his fingers.

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Unfortunately, New York was not the prime location for eclipse viewing since it did not fall under the path of totality, where viewers underneath could see the moon completely eclipse the sun. But NASA kindly provided a live stream and New Yorkers across the City just gave themselves up to having a good time.

In Brooklyn, there was a party outside the library at 380 Washington Ave. The crowd ate ice cream, enjoyed playing hooky from work, and decorated the sidewalk with eclipse art to memorialize the event.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Said Patricia DuBois, who photographed the solar eclipse using a pair of borrowed glasses and her phone. “I just had to be here.”

Photo by Kathleen Culliton