Solar Eclipse Safety

This applies to any solar eclipse but especially the one Monday, April 8, 2024 in North America!

SOLAR ECLIPSE SAFETY

Reminder that normal sunglasses will NOT protect your eyes from the sun, and that permanent retina damage (solar retinopathy) can begin in one second. That will leave a hole at the center of your vision. Please never stare at the sun, including during a partial solar eclipse, without using approved eye protection that meets ISO standard ISO 12312-2. These glasses are often silver in color and you can basically not see through them unless you're looking at the sun. Another way to watch the partial solar eclipse safely include poking a hole in a piece of paper and watching the shadow it casts on the ground.

You do NOT need eye protection during "totality." This eclipse totality is projected to last about 4 minutes, which is the longest one I've seen. I've seen two other total solar eclipses without damaging my vision. Totality then ends at the "diamond ring"(see photo), which is the flash of light that tells you it is time to look away in order to put your eclipse glasses back on. Most of the eclipse's path has no totality, and so it is NOT safe to look at the eclipse without eye protection at any point. But during totality, you are looking at the moon blocking the sun, so it is safe.

Totality is not subtle. You can see the shadow approaching from the horizon. The sun then increases in apparent size dramatically and becomes black with visible corona. It gets dark and cold. If you aren't sure whether you are in the path of totality, check, or wait and be surprised on Monday, April 8, 2024.

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/

https://www.ems1.com/medical-clinical/help-it-burns-ocular-trauma-due-to-solar-eclipses#:~:text=Solar%20retinopathy%20symptoms,hours%20or%20longer%20%5B4%5D