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.

Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers

Above, the Celestron Solar Shades kit I have. It is on the AAS approved list.

People with common sense know that looking directly at the sun, during an eclipse and otherwise, will lead to permanent eye damage. That means...blindness!

The American Astronomical Society has posted a list of reputable, and most importantly, safe vendors of viewing glasses, filters and viewers.

They start with:

Here you'll find lists of reputable manufacturers and authorized dealers of solar filters and viewers; these include companies with which members of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force have had prior (and positive!) experience as well as companies whose products have been certified safe by authorities we recognize and whose certification we have confirmed to be genuine. Your eyes are precious! You don't need astronomers to tell you that, but you do need astronomers to tell you where to get safe solar filters: from the companies listed on this page. To do otherwise is to take unnecessary risks. If a supplier isn't listed here, that doesn't mean its products are unsafe — only that we have no knowledge of them or that we haven't convinced ourselves they are safe. For more information see our Eye Safety pages.

To read more, go here. 

Eclipse: What To Expect and Tips

Above, a partial solar eclipse projected onto a wall from foliage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For most of us, experiencing a total solar eclipse will be a first time experience. Many wonder what to expect during the event and what to do when it happens on August 21.

The Republican Journal has an article on what to expect along with helpful tips on getting the most out of it.

They wrote (in part):

Throughout a total solar eclipse and depending upon your location and good fortune with the weather gods, our sun will be partly or completely blocked out by the moon passing directly in front of it. The moon’s close proximity to Earth allows it to appear to cover (eclipse) the solar disk, even though it is hundreds of times smaller than our sun. As the moon's shadow travels across the earth at more than 1,000 miles an hour (because of the moon's orbital motion minus the Earth’s eastward), the viewer will witness the gentle lunar dance lasting about two hours from start to finish. 

The sky will slowly darken; temperatures will drop as the air under the shadow cools, causing winds to dissipate and transforming the landscape with an eerie stillness. One should not expect the sky to appear uniformly dark.The area closest to the sun will be darkened and, as we gaze toward the earth’s horizon, it will appear lighter. The highlight, (total coverage of the sun) will only last a little more than two minutes. During these tantalizing few moments, the jet-black disk of the moon is directly over the sun. A breathtaking sunlight halo called the corona (Latin for crown) surrounds the disc. Then, as the dance progresses, light streaks through the valleys of the lunar mountains in a brief sparkling phenomenon known as “Baily’s Beads.”

To read more, go here. 

NASA Issues Eclipse Safety Guidelines

Above, the solar kit by Celestron. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has issued guidelines for eye safety while viewing the eclipse on August 21.

According to Fox News:

NASA has issued guidelines on how to watch next month's Great American Total Solar Eclipse. 

The government agency noted the only safe way to look directly at partially eclipsed or uneclipsed Sun are via special-purpose solar filters, including "eclipse glasses" or hand-held solar viewers.  

"Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun," NASA wrote in its guidelines.

I bought a Celestron Solar Shades kit a few months ago. Celestron is a trusted name in astronomy products.

To read more, go here. 

Camping For The Eclipse?

Above, camping or not, don't forget your eye protection!

Next month's eclipse event is likely to bring a lot of people out of the woodwork to camp out in an area where the totality's path will cross.

Unfortunately, many probably haven't set up a tent since college or, even worse, since their Boy Scout days.

But, there's some help for you city-slickers!

WFMY News has some good tips for those of you who are in need of some refresher tips before you head out.

They begin with:

Are you planning to camp during the total solar eclipse on August 21? That's great! You are in for a memorable experience. On that Monday, you’ll get to see the moon fully cover the sun, darkening the sky and making stars visible during the day. Campers headed away from city centers will have some of the best views, with less pollution clouding the rare celestial phenomenon.

But camping can be tricky. If you’re not prepared, you could be struggling to set up a tent, find your campsite or making a dash for more provisions when you should be laying on a blanket, watching a once-in-a-lifetime show.  

So, to read more and prevent having a disaster fall on you like a ton of bricks, go here.

Celestron Eclipse Solar Shades

In preparation for the August 21 solar eclipse, I bought the Celestron EclipSmart Solar Shades Observing Kit, which includes four ISO Certified Solar Eclipse Glasses & 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Guidebook through Amazon.com.

Celestron is a big name in astronomy equipment and supplies.

Looking at a solar eclipse can lead to blindness if an observer's eyes aren't protected.

To order, go here.