If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the eclipse on August 21 you're not completely out of luck.

A rare solar eclipse will be hitting the Hudson Valley just after lunch on Monday, August 21. Health professionals warn potential sun gazers that doing so without proper protective eye-ware could be dangerous.

We visited and called several local retailers only to find that all of them were completely sold out of eclipse glasses. Toys R Us in Poughkeepsie had an empty display this weekend, Lowe's was also completely out of the glasses. Walmart locations in Newburgh, Fishkill and Middletown also informed us that they no longer have the glasses in stock.

A. Boris
A. Boris
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Because of a flood of bogus glasses, online retailers have been working overtime to keep legitimate eclipse eye-ware in stock. The demand has made prices skyrocket. Amazon currently shows most of their certified glasses to be out of stock. Third-party sellers are offering them at ridiculous markups. A 10-pack of Soluna Solar Glasses is currently going for $99.95.

So how can you still safely catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse in the Hudson Valley?

Make a pinhole projector at home
Honestly, the eclipse glasses are so dark that all you're going to see is a dot of light being covered up by a dark circle. You can view the same phenomenon making a simple pinhole projector. And the best part is you won't have to wear those silly looking glasses. We made a video to show you just how easy it is to make one.

Borrow a welding mask
If you know someone who's a welder and can lend you a mask for the afternoon, the lenses in those masks are the same as the ones used to safely view the eclipse. Tech Air in Wappingers Falls sells them, but they start at $50.

Try your luck at a local event
There are many local organizations that will be hosting eclipse viewing parties. One of them is the National Parks Service. Vanderbuilt Mansion in Hyde Park will be opening their doors to eclipse viewers and will be supplying glasses for a $1 donation. A representative told us that they were selling glasses in advance, but would have 200 available on the day of the eclipse on a first-come-first-served basis.

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