​​​​ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ​A major celestial event is happening over Rochester next year and the Rochester Museum and Science Center needs ambassadors to help share the experience.

RMSC is recruiting community eclipse ambassadors for the 2024 total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, which will take place at 3:20 p.m. Rochester is in the path of totality.

What You Need To Know

  • Rochester sits directly in the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse and will experience 3 minutes and 38 seconds of complete totality

  • The total solar eclipse will hit Rochester on April 8, 2024 at 3:20 p.m.

  • The total solar eclipse is the last great opportunity for large segments of our country to experience a total solar eclipse until 2045

  • RMSC Community Eclipse Ambassador Program will include 50 community organizations

RMSC needs 50 organizations and about 100 people in our nine county region for this community eclipse ambassador program. Counties include Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates. Places like recreation centers, restaurants, worship centers, wineries, libraries and after-school programs are encouraged to apply to help make this experience accessible to as many people as possible.

Each community ambassador will receive a telescope, solar filter, solar viewing glasses, educational materials and a $1,000 stipend for participation. Ambassadors will help get everyone excited and informed about what they’re going to see. Skywatchers from all over are expected to visit our region to see it.

"When the moon passes in front of the sun it casts a giant shadow on the Earth," said Daniel Schneiderman, eclipse partnerships coordinator for the Rochester Museum and Science Center. "The sun will be completely covered by the moon, you’ll see the white aura around it and for three minutes and three seconds, depending where are you are, you gain or lose a couple seconds. It will be like evening in the middle of the day. Birds will come back to roost. The temperature will drop and you’ll experience this, almost, in the hair on the back of your neck. It is an emotional experience. This is our chance as Rochester to be prepared and view it in our own backyard.

Any organization interested in applying to become a community eclipse ambassador is invited to join an information virtual zoom meeting Thursday, February 2. You can register for the event and apply online at rochestereclipse2024.org.

There won’t be another major total solar eclipse happening over the U.S. until 2045.