Everything You Need to Know for the Best Eclipse Viewing Experience

According to NASA’s website, the last total solar eclipse to cross the contiguous U.S. (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) was 38 years ago, in February 1979. With a new solar eclipse visible from the west coast to the east coast approaching, we decided to compile a list of tips and things to know in order to safely enjoy this extraoridinary phenomenon. 


WHEN IS THE ECLIPSE?

The solar eclipse will take place on Monday, August 21st, 2017. The first point of contact will be on the West Coast at Lincoln Beach, Oregon at precisely 12:05 pm EDT (09:05 PDT) and will end near Charleston, South Carolina at 2:48 pm EDT. After that, the lunar shadow will leave the U.S. at 4:09 EDT. 

 

WHERE TO WATCH THE ECLISPE?

If you are in the United States on the 21st of August and weather permitting, there is a good chance you’ll see a partial eclipse. The partial eclipse will be seen from North America plus Hawaii and parts of South America, Africa and Europe with a varying obstruction rate. 
 

The path of totality, the 70-mile-wide area where the sun will be completely blocked out by the moon, passes over portions of 14 states (Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina). The ideal location where the total eclipse will last the longest is Carbondale, Illinois which will experience a complete black out for a full 2 minutes and 40 seconds. 
 

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To find out the exact peak time, duration and how much the sun will be obstructed from where you will be on the 21st, visit this website and enter your zip code: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16019892/solar-eclipse-2017-interactive-map 
 

Many events throughout the U.S., especially in the path of totality, will be help on August 21st. To find an event near you, check NASA’s official eclipse website at https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/event-locations.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH THE ECLISPE?

Let’s put it this way: You never want to look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality! Doing otherwise could seriously hurt your eyes. Thankfully there are many ways to safely view an eclipse of the sun including direct viewing (some type of filtering device such as glasses) and indirect viewing where you project an image of the sun onto a screen. 
 

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or any ordinary sunglasses are not safe for looking at the sun. To find eclipse glasses, refer to the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers list (https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters). When buying eclipse viewing device such as glasses and viewers, make sure the items are ISO 12312-2 compliant. 
 

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You should also: 

  • Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. 
  • Always supervise children using solar filters.
  • Do not look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device, even while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer. The concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.
  • If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
 

For additional safety information and other ways to watch the eclipse, go to https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

We hope that with the guide, you will have a safe and fun viewing experience. We also hope the weather will be on everyone’s side on August 21st! Don’t forget to tag us on Twitter @GTPAssistance with photos of your viewing experience. 

Posted: 8/11/2017 3:26:42 PM