Solar Eclipse 2017
On August 21, 2017 many Americans will be able to experience a total solar eclipse as the moon passes in front of the sun and completely covers it for a couple of minutes.
While this is an exciting natural phenomenon, looking directly at the sun – even just a sliver of it – can cause serious eye damage or even blindness.
While we don’t want to spoil your fun, we do want to make sure that your eyes are protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Follow the guidelines below to make sure that you enjoy the solar eclipse safely.
Do not look directly at the sun!
While this might seem understood, typically our instinct is to look away from the sun. During the stages of an eclipse there is a certain degree of comfort with which we can look at the sun. But even a small sliver of sun peeking around the moon can still cause serious damage to the back of your eyes.
Only look at the eclipse through approved solar filters.
Sunglasses do NOT provide sufficient protection from the sun while looking at it directly. Only glasses and filters that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products are suitable for viewing an eclipse. You can find a list of approved manufacturers and products here. These products are easy to find and can be purchased through online retailers such as Amazon.
When it’s safe to look.
Without the use of eclipse glasses or solar filters the only time it is safe to look directly at a solar eclipse is during totality, or when the sun is completely covered by the moon and only the “corona” is visible. This frame of time only lasts a couple of minutes, and varies based on your geographical location. Check to see if your geographical location is expected to see totality before viewing the eclipse. If your area does not fall in the band of totality you should wear eclipse glasses the entire time you watch. Make sure that you put the approved eye protection back on before you start to see the sun peek around the moon.
Want more info? Visit https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety to find out more!