70+ Awesome Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey!

Solar Eclipse Watch Parties Planned for NJ

Next Monday, August 21st, much of the United States will witness the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in nearly a century and many of us are looking for great places to watch the solar eclipse in New Jersey. New Jersey is out of the path of the total eclipse, but we will still be able to see the moon eclipse about 75-77% of the sun (the effect will be greater in South Jersey), which is still pretty darn impressive! At around 1:22pm in the afternoon, the sky over New Jersey will begin to darken, stars will become visible, and the Great American Eclipse will begin with the maximum phase of darkness occurring at about 2:45pm.

Are you planning to watch the Great American Solar Eclipse in New Jersey? Be sure to have protective solar eclipse viewing glasses. IT IS NOT SAFE TO VIEW THE ECLIPSE WITHOUT PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR!!! Looking at the sun without protective eyewear can burn your retina and cause blindness. Solar eclipse viewing glasses are available at a number of stores in New Jersey and some libraries are distributing the glasses as well. They may also be purchased online but make sure that your solar eclipse viewing glasses meet safety standards for viewing the eclipse safely. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) has a list of companies that manufacture and/or sell solar eclipse viewing glasses that meet safety standards HERE. You will also need a solar filter if you plan to view the eclipse through a telescope, binoculars, or a camera lens. This is both to protect your eyesight as well as your equipment. A list of approved solar filters for telescopes, binoculars, or camera lenses is also available from the AAS.

So where do you plan to watch the solar eclipse in New Jersey? Haven’t decided yet? Many New Jersey planetariums, museums, libraries, and parks are hosting solar eclipse watch parties in New Jersey. If you aren’t interested in attending a NJ eclipse event, watching the solar eclipse at New Jersey parks is another great option. Things To Do in New Jersey scouted the state for the best places to watch the solar eclipse in New Jersey and we’ve come up with a ton of fantastic events (many of them are free!) and locations for viewing the solar eclipse in NJ. Here are 78 places to watch the solar eclipse in New Jersey!

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey: Planetariums and Museums

Solar Eclipse Watch at Planetarium at
Raritan Valley Community College

The Planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg will host a free Solar Eclipse Watch from 1-4 pm on August 21st. Bring your own protective eyewear! Free admission.

Great American Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
at Robert J. Novins Planetarium

The ASTRA Astronomy Club in Toms River will host a Solar Eclipse Watch at the Robert J. Novins Planetarium in Toms River on the campus of Ocean County Community College on August 21st from 1-4pm. ASTRA will provide telescopes with special solar filters for safe solar eclipse viewing. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Event at Edelman Planetarium
at Rowan University

The Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University in Glassboro will host a free show, Totality, and will distribute free solar eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last). Solar telescopes will also be available for safe viewing of the solar eclipse at the Science Hall, and there will be fun hands-on activities like creating your own pocket solar system and making your own planisphere. The Solar Eclipse Event at the Edelman Planetarium will take place from 12:30pm-4pm. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Watch at Dreyfuss Planetarium
at the Newark Museum

Although the Dreyfuss Planetarium at the Newark Museum is closed on Mondays, museum staff will be on hand from 1pm – 4pm in the museum’s Horizon Plaza to help you experience this special astronomical event. Guests will be able to make a simple pinhole viewer, created using NASA guidelines, for safe viewing of the solar eclipse. Free admisssion.

Great American Eclipse at Liberty Science Center

The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is hosting an all-day event in observance of the solar eclipse. The event will begin at 10am. The Center will have telescopes and sunspotters out on the lawn, plus a special scope with a camera and monitors for safely displaying the eclipse during its progression. Live science demos will include a solar eclipse model and explanation. There will also be a live remote broadcast from Cadiz, Kentucky where the eclipse will be total. Other fun solar eclipse activities will include Sun Globe Racing in inflatable hamster balls, space crafts, such as sundials, eclipse art, and more. Our live science demos will include a solar eclipse model and explanation. A screening of the Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon Laser Show will begin at 4:45 p.m. Laser show tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children.

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at the Morris Museum

The Morris Museum will host a free solar eclipse viewing party on August 21st, broadcasting NASA’s livestream of the total eclipse. Join the Morris Museum’s Astronomical Society in the Bickford Theatre beginning at 1pm. Free admission.

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey: Parks, Forests, and other Open Spaces

Solar eclipse viewing parties are happening at the following parks and public spaces in New Jersey.

Solar Eclipse Party at Gateway National Recreation Area

Join park rangers and astronomers at Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook for a free solar eclipse viewing party at History House No. 1 at the Fort Hancock Historic Post. The event will take place from 1pm-5pm, Bring your own protective eyewear. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at Palmer Square in Princeton

Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to Palmer Square in Princeton and the Princeton Public Library will provide protective solar eclipse viewing glasses and snacks at this three-hour Solar Eclipse Viewing Party. Astronomers from Princeton University’s department of Astrophysical Sciences will be there to provide eclipse education and answer questions. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Viewing at Washington Crossing State Park

View the solar eclipse with astronomers from the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton. The event will take place at the observatory near the Washington Crossing Park Nature Center from 1:20pm-4pm. Telescopes with filters will be available for safe viewing of the solar eclipse. Park at the Nature Center or the soccer fields off Route 579. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Viewing at Jenny Jump State Forest

Come out to view the solar eclipse at Jenny Jump State Forest in Great Meadows from 12:20pm-4:30pm. Astronomers from the United Astronomy Clubs of NJ will be on hand to share this amazing astronomical event with all who attend. There will be solar telescopes to safely view the sun, and we will be assisting with solar photography for those who are interested in taking pictures. Bring a chair or blanket. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Viewing at Voorhees State Park

View the solar eclipse with members of the NJ Astronomical Association in High Bridge NJ at Voorhees State Park’s Paul Robinson Observatory. The event will take place from 1pm-4:30pm. There will be several telescopes available for viewing including two equipped with Hydrogen Alpha (Ha) filters. “Ha” filters give a remarkable view of the solar disc unlike other “white light” filters. Solar Glasses and refreshments will be available for purchase. Telescope viewing is weather dependent. Free admission.

Solar Eclipse Watch Party at
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park will host a solar eclipse watch party in Overlook Park at 72 McBride Avenue in Paterson. Free solar eclipse viewing glasses and t-shirts will be provided while suplies last, as well as special Solar Eclipse Junior Ranger books and badges. Free admission.

While the following New Jersey parks are not hosting official solar eclipse viewing events, they should still be awesome – and very scenic – places to watch the solar eclipse in New Jersey.

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey:
Library Eclipse Watch Parties

Many libraries in New Jersey are hosting solar eclipse viewing parties and offering free protective solar eclipse viewing glasses. As of publication time, Things to Do in New Jersey is aware of solar eclipse viewing parties at these New Jersey libraries:

Asbury Park
Atco (Camden County South County Branch)
Barnegat
Belleville
Bellmawr
Belvidere (White Twp.)
Caldwell
Chatham
Cranford
Denville
Elizabeth
Greenwich Township
Hackettstown
Haddonfield
Island Heights
Kenilworth
Keyport
Little Egg Harbor
Manalapan
Mendham
Millburn
Montclair
Mount Laurel
Mullica Hill
Northfield
Oakland
Pleasantville
Rockaway
Scotch Plains
Shrewsbury
Somerset County
South Orange
Vineland
Warren
Washington Borough
Watchung
Waterford Township
Westampton
Woodbury

Some of the New Jersey library eclipse watch parties require pre-registration so be sure to check with your local library first.

Do you know of other places to watch the solar eclipse in New Jersey? Comment below to share with our readers!

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Solar Eclipse Watch Parties Planned for NJ

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey: Planetariums and Museums

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey: Parks, Forests, and other Open Spaces

Solar Eclipse Viewing at Washington Crossing State Park

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey: Library Eclipse Watch Parties

Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in New Jersey:
Library Eclipse Watch Parties