A rare celestial even is upon us, check out this article if you need some advice on getting prepared to view one of the natural wonders we are blessed with!
Who
Everyone in North America, Europe, and even some people in South America will be treated with a view of this eclipse.
What
A solar eclipse is a heavenly event, where the moon passes between the sun and our planet, and blocks a portion, or all of the sun for a few hours. This eclipse will feature the moon blocking the sun for about three minutes.
It has been almost 40 years since the last total eclipse in the U.S, this is a rare event and everyone should be ready to enjoy it!
Image acquired from https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse
When
To find out when you can get a glimpse of the action, follow NASA's dynamic countdown. This can be found here:
How
To watch the solar eclipse on August 21, you need proper equipment.
According to the guide to the universe you need either:
- Proper, Nasa approved lenses
- A pinhole camera
- To be on top of a space satellite
It might be a little late notice to get yourself to the ISS and by now you probably have realized that most retailers have completely sold out of eclipse lenses - and if they haven't, high demand will result in a higher price.
A quick note about lenses - even those with welding masks might not be safe. If you are planning on looking through a welding mask or lens, the only shade that can provide adequate protection from the sun is shade #14.
Safety Interlude
If you are going to read anything in this article, let this be it. The solar eclipse is an amazing moment in nature, and should be the source of pleasure, not potential permanent damage to your vision.
It will only take a few seconds for the sun to cause permanent damage to your retina, and you might not know until the damage is done.
Your retinas do not have pain receptors, and you won't have a good indication if damage is being done.
This is why you should never look directly at the sun, your eyes are fragile and you need them for the rest of your life.
If you have spots in your vision after the eclipse, they are probably from an effect called "bleaching" this usually resolves itself, but if they last for more than a few hours, you want to get yourself to the doctor and get checked out to be safe. Please be sure to use the proper methods to observe the eclipse.
Back to business
That leaves us with the pinhole camera option being the best one available.
*You may also use your phone to take pictures of the eclipse. You will get the best results by putting a tint over the camera to reduce glare. A good tip to properly focus your phone is to hold your finger on the screen until it says "auto focus" this should help you take the best quality photos.
I was going to make one, and show you guys how, but this article does such a great job that I do not think it's necessary.
Happy eclipsing!
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/box-pinhole-projector.html
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