Six inmates at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility will be allowed to view the upcoming solar eclipse.Photo:Rick Kern/Getty
Rick Kern/Getty
A group of inmates who sued their New York state prison facility for not allowing them to view the upcoming solar eclipse will be allowed to view the phenomenon after all.
On April 4, the lawyers for six inmates at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility who sued the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for not being allowed to view the eclipse said that the department will allow them to view it,according to NBC News,CBS Newsand theTimes-Unionof Albany.
The inmates argued that the prison was violating their religious right to seethe eclipse, which will take place during the afternoon on April 8.
“We are pleased that, in response to our lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, New York State has entered into a binding settlement agreement that will allow our six clients to view the solar eclipse in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs,” lawyers Chris McArdle, Sharon Steinerman, and Madeline Byrd of Alston & Bird said in a statement to multiple outlets.
The lawsuit, which was withdrawn after the agreement was made, stated that prison officials announced that inmates would not be allowed outside to view the eclipse and that the facility would be operating on a holiday schedule that day, NBC reported. This would mean all inmates would have to remain in their cells at the time the eclipse is set to pass over New York — around 3:25 p.m., perNASA’s eclipse map.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty
“We continued our analysis and review during the pendency of the lawsuit,” the corrections department said in a statement, according to multiple outlets. “The Department has agreed to permit the six individuals to view the eclipse.”
The eclipse is expected to cause a few minutes of daytime darkness. Its exact timing depends on where viewers are located in North America, where the phenomenon will pass after it begins over the South Pacific ocean.
“Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT,“NASAwrites of the phenomenon. It will then enter the U.S. in Texas.
Then, it travels through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as small parts of Michigan and Tennessee. Those interested in experiencing the complete solar eclipse shouldlook up exactly where in their state is within the path of totality.
After it makes its way over the U.S., the eclipse will enter Canada. Itwill exit continental North Americaon the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.
After the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, the next total solar eclipse won’t occur for another 20 years. Per NASA, the next one visible in the United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.
source: people.com
