SHERBURNE — Visit the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, located at 2721 State Route 80 in Sherburne, from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8 to view the first full solar eclipse since 1925.

According to GreatAmericanEclipse.com, "While the sun is actually about 400 times larger in diameter than the moon, the moon is also about 400 times closer than the sun. Therefore, the sun and the moon appear to be about the same size in our sky.

"This single fact explains why we see total solar eclipses - the moon has an apparent size that just barely covers the sun completely, yet is not too large that the sun's atmosphere, its corona, is eclipsed as well. We on Earth occupy a celestial sweet spot to witness this sight."

Friends of Rogers Environmental Educator Ellen Rathbone said this is the first time since 1925 that the Chenango County area will be in the path of totality for a solar eclipse, which won't happen again until 2079.

"The eclipse is about four minutes long - but for us it will be less than two minutes based on the maps I'm seeing - for the 'big event,' but there will be gradual darkening and lightening for some time, which is why our participation time is a large window," she said. "We are outside the path of totality, but will be getting 97 to 98 percent, so still something to marvel at. The time to be looking up, if you have protective glasses, is between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m."