GLASSBORO — The Garden State won't get the full effect of the first total solar eclipse in decades, but the view from New Jersey is still worth a party.

A thousand specially-designed pairs of glasses are ready to be distributed Monday at Rowan University's science building, where a viewing party is scheduled for the partial eclipse that will create a crescent sun over a nearly three-hour period.

"We expect to distribute all of them before the day is out," said Amy Barraclough, director of the university's Edelman Planetarium. "They're different than sunglasses; solar eclipse glasses are designed to block out 99 percent of the sun's light, which will make it safe to look directly at the sun."

The free event, open to the public, will also feature a mobile arcade, hands-on activities, water ice and a planetarium show.

In addition, live NASA feeds of the total eclipse — which will cause a dark sky from Oregon to South Carolina — will be streaming for visitors.

South Jersey will experience a 75 percent total eclipse, according to the university. The show in the sky will begin around 1:15 p.m. and end at 4, with a maximum eclipse expected around 2:45 p.m.

"I absolutely love this stuff," Barraclough said. "Public outreach events like this are kind of what fuels me."

Additional viewing parties

  • Barnegat Library, Barnegat
  • Bellmawr Library, Bellmawr
  • Caldwell Public Library, Caldwell
  • Cranford Public Library, Cranford
  • Elizabeth Public Library, Elizabeth
  • Greenwich Township Library, Gibbstown
  • Hillsborough Library, Hillsborough
  • Island Heights Library, Island Heights
  • Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
  • Library of the Chathams, Chatham
  • Little Egg Harbor Library, Little Egg Harbor Twp.
  • Manville Library, Manville
  • Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
  • Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan
  • Morris Museum, Morristown
  • Mullica Hill Library, Mullica Hill
  • North Plainfield Library, North Plainfield
  • Palmer Square, Princeton
  • Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg
  • Robert J. Novins Planetarium — Ocean County College, Toms River
  • Warren Township Library, Warren

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Contact reporter Dino Flammia at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com.

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