A total solar eclipse will occur in the United States, Mexico, and Canada on Monday, April 8th.
During this solar eclipse, the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun's rays and darkening the sky during the day. However, if you want to observe this astronomical phenomenon, you must take appropriate precautions.
A solar eclipse goes through stages, allowing you to see the moon slowly moving in front of the sun. This is called a partial phase. During these stages, NASA recommends wearing protective eyewear, which must specifically meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
If you don't like glasses, you can also view the eclipse using a telescope, camera lens, or binoculars, but you'll need to fit a suitable filter on top to avoid eye damage.
According to NASA, viewing bright parts of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or telescope without a dedicated solar filter in front of the optics can quickly cause serious damage to your eyes. .
Viewing a solar eclipse without eye protection can cause “eclipse blindness,” also known as solar retinopathy. This means that light from the sun can burn the back layer of the eye, known as the retina, which converts light into electrical signals. These signals are sent to the brain by the optic nerve and create the images that a person sees.
Mild symptoms of solar retinopathy include watery eyes, eye pain, headaches, and photosensitivity, while more severe symptoms include blurred vision, blind spots, dim vision, distorted vision, eye pain, This includes blindness.
If you think you may have a retinal burn, we recommend contacting your eye doctor or optometrist immediately.
Glasses and filters suitable for viewing the solar eclipse are essentially thousands of times darker and more powerful than sunglasses, so this fashion accessory is not recommended as an approved replacement for standard ones.
In addition to many places giving out free approved glasses to view the eclipse, NASA also provides instructions on how to build your own eclipse projector.
This projector is called a pinhole projector and works when the sun is at your back, allowing the user to see an image of the sun projected onto a nearby surface.
All you need to make these projectors is a small cardboard box about the size of a cereal or shoe box, white paper, tape, scissors, aluminum foil, and push pins.
First, trace one edge of the box on the paper, cut it out, and place it inside the box on the same edge you traced. Drill two square holes on opposite sides of the box. Cover one of the squares with aluminum foil and tape it. Using a push pin, he makes one hole in the center of the foil.
To use a pinhole projector accurately, turn your back to the sun and look through the hole next to the foil-covered hole. When light shines through the hole in the foil, you should see an image of a solar eclipse (a crescent sun) projected onto the white paper.
When the moon completely covers the sun during a period called totality, you can safely view a solar eclipse without safety glasses. This period usually only lasts a few minutes, and the filter or cover should be replaced if any type of light starts to peak again.
This total solar eclipse is reported to last up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, with start and end times varying depending on location. For example, in Dallas, Texas, totality begins at 1:40 PM CDT and ends at 1:44 PM CDT. In Caribou, Maine, it starts at 3:32 PM ET and ends at 3:34 PM ET.
However, if you don't plan on building your own pinhole projector, many retailers offer suitable glasses for use.
For example, Warby Parker will be giving away free ISO-certified eclipse glasses at all stores from April 1 through the April 8 eclipse. Glasses are limited to two glasses per family.
You can also get glasses at your local library.
With support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Institute for Space and Astronautical Science, the STAR Library Network will deliver 5 million solar eclipses to 10,000 public libraries nationwide with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Institute for Space and Astronautical Science, and STAR. I was able to ship the glass. Solar eclipse activity program for online libraries. Certain libraries provide one pair per patron.
New York State is also offering the public the opportunity to obtain two pairs of ISO-certified “I LOVE NY” eclipse glasses for free, according to the I LOVE NY webpage.
Free pairs of specs will be distributed daily at the New York State Welcome Center, select highway rest areas, and other locations listed on the site while supplies last.
“Please note that due to high demand, there is no guarantee that glasses will be available,” the website says.
Jenis, an ice cream brand based in Columbus, Ohio, will also be selling its Punk Stargonaut Collection, a collection of four “out-of-this-world flavors” launched to celebrate the solar eclipse. We will give away 4 pairs of solar eclipse glasses. . People can start purchasing ice cream online starting March 28th and at Jeni's Ice Cream Parlor starting April 5th.
Sonic has also come up with a special menu to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse. The fast food chain has announced its Blackout Slush Float and will be giving away a pair of eclipse glasses with every drink purchase, while supplies last. The drink promotion continues until May 5th.
Starting March 27, people can also purchase eclipse-themed drinks at Smoothie King until April 8. Eclipse Berry Blitz is made with “banana, wild blueberries, apples, blueberry juice blend, white grape lemon juice blend, protein blend, and blue spirulina, a blue-green algae powder.”
Customers who purchase Eclipse Berry Blitz at participating Smoothie King locations within Totality Pass will also receive a free Eclipse Glass while supplies last.
However, if you would like to have your eclipse glasses delivered directly to your home, there are many options available in packs on Amazon. The important thing is to make sure that everything you use for Eclipse is ISO approved.