Annular Solar Eclipse Safety Tips

Above, eclipse watchers during the 2017 Great American
Eclipse near Roberts, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those planning to observe the annular solar eclipse on October 14, safety precautions must be taken to protect one's eyes from the damaging rays of the sun.

I have several pairs of solar glasses left over from the 2017 Great American Eclipse. They are still good to use. They have been safely put away in my motorhome.

From the American Academy of Ophthalmology:

The American Astronomical Society says modern eclipse glasses do not expire. If the glasses were compliant with the ISO 12312-2, and have no punctures, scratches or tears, and the filters/lenses remain attached to the frames, they will last.

Space.com has eight safety tips for observing the eclipse.

They begin with:

A solar eclipse will be visible across North, Central and South America on Oct. 14, and it promises to be a landmark event. 

Everyone in the U.S. will see a partial solar eclipse, with those farther west seeing a much larger chunk taken out of the sun.

Only from a path 125 miles (200 kilometers) wide running from Oregon through Texas — via California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico — will observers get to see a "ring of fire," as a slightly smaller-than-average new moon obscures about 90% of the sun for up to almost five minutes (annularity). Our annular solar eclipse 2023 guide tells you everything you need to know about North America's "ring of fire" eclipse. 

For some specific regions — notably the high-elevation Colorado Plateau, where many eclipse-chasers will head — there are some particular safety issues to be aware of. However, everyone in the continent needs to be aware of how to stay safe on eclipse day for an event that will take up to about three hours, depending on the exact location.

While this is an exciting and unique experience, it's crucial to prioritize safety when observing the eclipse. Here are eight tips to ensure safe and enjoyable viewing of this exciting and unique event, which won't happen again in the U.S. until June 21, 2039 in Alaska.  

 To read more, go here.