On May 10, 1994, Niagara County Community College enjoyed the spectacle of being right under the path of an annular eclipse. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon in the phase of a New Moon moves in front of the sun, appearing smaller than the Sun. This visual phenomenon causes the moon to not completely cover the sun and makes the sun look like a bright ring of light around the edge of the dark moon, often called the ring of fire effect. The annular eclipse visible at Niagara County Community College lasted from 11:49 am to 3:09 pm. At 11:41am, viewers could start to see the moon slowly intruding on the sun's western limb. The moon then gradually moved eastward relative to the sun and at 1:22 pm, the complete annular stage was visible, lasting for about 6 minutes. During this 6 minute window, the moon was fully inside the disc of the sun, creating the ring of fire effect. Viewers could then watch the moon slowly leave the face of the sun and the eclipse ended at 3:09pm.
The following photographs and newspaper clippings from the College Archives show how NCCC celebrated the annular eclipse of 1994.
A crowd gathers around the telescope while some start to the view the eclipse with eclipse glasses.
Woman looks through telescope during the May 10, 1994 eclipse.
Students using eclipse glasses to view the celestial annular event while on the patio of D-Building.
Woman gets a close view of the eclipse via help of the telescope.
Crowd gathers around telescope in anticipation of viewing the May 10, 1994 annular eclipse!
Crowd enjoys viewing the eclipse via various types of telescopes.
Group of eclipse viewing event attendees admire the eclipse using eclipse glasses while in the NCCC Courtyard.
Crowd gathers around telescopes in the NCCC courtyard, sharing their experience viewing the May 10, 1994 eclipse.
Viewers of the annular eclipse get an up close look at the workings of a telescope.
