Great American Eclipse
Extreme caution is needed Monday to protect eyes that are drawn to the skies for a heavenly happening.
The coming Great American Eclipse is a rare event in which the moon will completely cover the sun, exposing a view of the sun's fiery atmosphere, or corona.This type of celestial wonder occurs when the sun, moon and Earth align in just the right way.However, our area will witness only a partial eclipse. This means the moon will cover only part of the sun's disk.Other places, stretching from Salem, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina, will see a total solar eclipse, swooping the nation from the Pacific to Atlantic.The event poses a risk of eye injury to viewers in all locations.Many are expected to watch it.It'll be a boon to the economy in several states. Hundreds of thousands will drive to locations in Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina to grab a spot somewhere within a 60- to 70-mile swath of totality.In fact, the timing is perfect for tremendous interest and spectatorship.For one, most Americans live within a day's drive of the eclipse path. They also happen to have some free time. That's because it's summer. Schools are still out for a break in some areas and many families are already on the road for vacation.Reports are that most hotel rooms have already sold out along the anticipated path of totality.And no wonder.Those who've witnessed one say a total solar eclipse is deeply emotional.The next one to be visible in the United States won't happen until April 8, 2024.For now, the one coming up Monday is all the rage, which is fine as long as the excitement is matched by enthusiasm for safety."Everyone needs to be reminded that eyes never evolved on Earth to look at the sun without suffering severe damage," states a NASA website."We have many built-in reflexes to prevent this. There are no higher organisms on this planet that can do so and not run an enormous risk of being blinded."Special eyewear is needed. NASA and Google say they'll distribute viewing glasses to many institutions and groups, but only along the path of totality, not in our area.Still, proper eyewear is easily obtainable. But, as can be expected, there are always those trying to cash in on opportunities.Some eBay auctions are listing eclipse viewing eyeglasses for $400 a shot.Lower-priced versions are running about $10 a pair. Many are produced in China.Keep in mind, price doesn't necessarily guarantee quality.NASA has identified three certified manufacturers of eclipse glasses and solar viewers whose products are certified to meet necessary ISO 12312-2 international safety standards: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics and Thousand Oaks Optical. There might be others as well.The bottom line is that consumers need to do their homework and make sure the glasses they're buying are the real deal.Similarly, photographers and others are reminded that solar filters are recommended for binoculars, telescopes and cameras, lest damage occur to equipment.Astronomers are happy when the general public takes an interest in the skies.But their strictest warning is saved for events like this.They say extreme caution must be taken when viewing a solar eclipse.Your eyesight is too important to gamble.If in doubt, simply play it safe and avoid looking up.You're bound to see countless eclipse images and videos featured in media.We can predict the eclipse to dominate Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other online platforms early next week.Either way, you won't be left out.By Donald R. Serfass |