The World Is Not Coming To An End


In case you hadn’t heard … there’s a solar eclipse happening today. I don’t know how anyone could NOT hear about it, but it’s always a possibility. And in case you’re wondering what time you need to tell your boss that you need to leave the office for this once in a lifetime event (it’s really not, but more on that later), it will begin at 1:16 PM, peak at 2:44pm and it’s all over and done with at 4:06pm. And if you miss this one … the next North American total solar eclipse is on April 8, 2024. But we won’t be in the direct path of that one. If this year’s solar eclipse is any indication, you might want to make your travel plans for the next one…. now. 

     
  Jan 31, 2018 Partial Lunar Eclipse Total Lunar EclipseNorth/East Europe, Asia, Australia, North/East Africa, North America, North/West South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica
  Jan 20/21, 2019 Total Lunar Eclipse Total Lunar EclipseEurope, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic
  Nov 11, 2019 Partial Mercury Transit Partial Mercury TransitSouth/West Europe, South/West Asia, Africa, Much of North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica
  Jul 4/5, 2020 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Penumbral Lunar EclipseSouth/West Europe, Much of Africa, Much of North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica

Looking at the sun during an eclipse is more dangerous than looking at full sun. The darkness that accompanies an eclipse can override the natural tendency to squint and avert the eyes, increasing the amount of ultraviolet radiation landing on the retina and making it more likely that you’ll sustain eye damage. Your eyes can sustain damage even if only a small sliver of the sun is visible. The cornea focuses sunlight on the retina and scorches it, and because the retina has no pain receptors, you don’t know the damage has been done until it’s too late.

Your eyes need the protection of an effective UV-blocking filter if you want to look at an eclipse. That protection isn’t provided by conventional sunglasses, nor is it provided by smoky or colored glass. You need the industrial-strength protection of No. 14 welder’s goggles or, even better, eclipse glasses that are made for viewing eclipses. A simple projector consisting of two pieces of cardboard — one with a pinhole — also allows you to view the eclipse safely, if not in great detail. The pinhole projects the sun’s image onto the other piece of cardboard.

NASA recommends that people who plan to view the eclipse should check the safety authenticity of viewing glasses to ensure they meet basic proper safety viewing standards.

Eclipse viewing glasses and handheld solar viewers should meet all the following criteria:

·      Have certification information with a designated ISO 12312-2 international standard

·      Have the manufacturer’s name and address printed somewhere on the product

·      Not be used if they are older than three years, or have scratched or wrinkled lenses

·      Not use homemade filters

·      Ordinary sunglasses — even very dark ones — should not be used as a replacement for eclipse viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers

NASA Television is offering a special live program, “Eclipse Across America: Through the Eyes of NASA” with real-time coverage of the event from coast to coast. The nearly four-hour program will include unprecedented images of the Aug. 21 eclipse from numerous spacecraft — including the International Space Station – high-altitude aircraft and balloons, and ground observations. Each will offer a unique vantage point for the eclipse. Additionally, the broadcast will include live coverage of activities in parks, libraries, stadiums, festivals and museums across the nation, and on social media. To watch the Aug. 21 NASA TV eclipse broadcast online and access interactive web content and views of the eclipse from these assets, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive