Total Solar Eclipse
The Great North American Eclipse
The Shadow of the Moon is Coming
On April 8, 2024, Buffalo and Western New York will experience a total solar eclipse! Often called "the greatest celestial event you can experience," this eclipse will be an amazing event for the area's residents and the several hundred thousand visitors expected to travel to the area. Learn about our events leading up to and including the big day and how to safely view the total solar eclipse using the links below.
Eclipse Events Presented by the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium
Get Your Eclipse Glasses With Us!
The Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium is selling eclipse glasses with two Buffalo-branded designs as well as a 3x5 viewer also branded for Buffalo. All items are $2 each and are ISO certified for safe solar viewing.
Remember that eclipse glasses (or other proper eye protection) are required to directly viewing the Sun ANY time except during totality.
NASA Day at Buffalo State University -- April 7th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Join us for hands-on activities, presentations by NASA scientists and engineers, and Moon rocks!
10 to 11 a.m.: "Contributing to NASA’s Solar Eclipse Studies: Find Out How You Can Also Contribute," with Kevin Czajkowski, NASA GLOBE Mission Earth.
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Moon rocks exhibit.
Eclipse Fest -- April 8th 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Join us to experience the event of the century! Enjoy eclipse-related activities, entertainment, eclipse swag, and food trucks as you view the total solar eclipse guided by Buffalo State experts. Don’t miss it!
General admission includes eclipse glasses, a commemorative t-shirt, and eclipse souvenirs. VIP tickets have added benefits of reserved parking, reserved seating, an open bar, and more!
Past Eclipse Events
Thank you to everyone who attended, helped organize, or supported these events to help make Buffalo State University's Year of the Eclipse a success!
Eclipse Talk by Fred "Mr. Eclipse" Espenak -- February 15th 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Experiencing Totality - The Great Total Eclipse of 2024
Join us for an evening with the world's expert on eclipses! The presentation will be 7:30-8:30 in the Performing Arts Center in Rockwell Hall on campus. Mr. Espenak will be selling and signing books before and after his talk. Don't miss this special presentation!
Eclipse Talk Event and Ticket Information
Eclipse Themed Paint & Sip -- February 22nd 5:30 pm
We are partnering with Paint the Town to offer an exclusive evening of painting and skygazing! The painting for the evening will be an eclipse composition made just for us.
Sangria and a selection of beer will be paired with a lovely cheese board, fruit, brownies, and cookies. This event is for guests 21 and older only. Seats are very limited for this special event.
Visit our Ticketing Site for tickets to this and other planetarium programs.
Eclipse & Sips Beer Tasting -- March 8th 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Join your favorite breweries from across WNY for a totality awesome night! You’ll enjoy eclipse themed treats, activities and planetarium shows, and some great eclipse themed merch.
Celebrate one month until the Total Solar Eclipse with beer samples from local breweries, tasty appetizers, and eclipse-themed activities. All attendees also receive eclipse glasses for the big event!
Tickets are limited, so don't be left in the dark!
Light & Dark: Eclipse Music Concert -- March 10th 2:00 & 4:00 p.m.
Eclipse inspired music in the planetarium
Buffalo will experience the Great North American Solar Eclipse on April 8th. Join award-winning ensemble fivebyfive as they share original music and immersive video in the planetarium. Concerts are at 2:00 and 4:00 with a pre-concert talk 30 minutes before each.
Light & Dark Tickets Available
All tickets are $25 (plus fees) and are extremely limited for this intimate, immersive experience!
Planetarium Eclipse Programs -- February 16th through April 6th
This immersive, fulldome program uses amazing visualizations to explore historical views of eclipses, the geometry that gives us eclipses, how to safely view a solar eclipse, and a first-hand account of one person’s experience during a total solar eclipse
Following the fulldome program, one of our Planetarium Educators will use our digital planetarium system to demonstrate how the April 8th total solar eclipse will look from here in Buffalo and will answer questions about this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Visit our Ticketing Site for tickets to this and other planetarium programs.
Timeline of the April 8th Total Solar Eclipse for Buffalo, NY
2:04 pm
Partial Eclipse Begins
3:18 pm
Totality Begins
3:22 pm
Totality Ends
4:32 pm
Partial Eclipse Ends
Thank You to Our Eclipse Event Sponsors
We are extremely grateful to sponsors who have helped to make our eclipse programming possible!
Public Show Sponsor
Education Sponsor
Eclipse Fest Sponsor
Additional support has been provided by:
Buffalo Spree Pepsi
Other Eclipse-related Activities at Buffalo State
Exhibition at the Burchfield Penney Art Center
Works by Charles E. Burchfield & Alan Friedman
The Art & Design Department's exhibition, "Total Eclipse of the Art" will take place in the Bacon Student Gallery in Upton Hall. The Gallery is open Mon - Fri 10 am - 4 pm.
The Casting Hall production features a very hungry plant that arrives during a total solar eclipse!
Tickets (tickets not yet on sale)
The theme of this year's RUNWAY showcase is ECLIPSE.
Join us in the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall for a performance celebrating Buffalo State University’s Year of the Eclipse. Featuring performances by Music Department large ensembles.