Experts are emphasizing the importance of wearing cardboard safety glasses for the upcoming solar eclipse in 2024. Although these glasses may not be the most fashionable, they are crucial for protecting your eyes while viewing the sun during the eclipse. Astronomy experts, including those at NASA, are urging the public to wear special filtered safety glasses, similar to the ones used during the Great American Solar Eclipse in 2017, to avoid eye damage.
Amie Gallagher, the planetarium director at Raritan Valley Community College in Somerset County, stresses the necessity of wearing solar eclipse glasses during the event. She explains that people often try to overcome their natural reflex to look away from the bright sun and instead stare at the eclipsing sun. However, this can cause serious eye injuries. Even if there is only a small portion of the sun visible, it is essential to have a filter.
Not only is it important to wear these glasses for direct viewing, but also when taking photos with your cell phone or any camera. Gallagher emphasizes that specialized filters are required to prevent severe eye injury when viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope.
It’s crucial to note that many regions in the United States, including New Jersey and the New York City metro area, will not experience a total solar eclipse. Instead, these areas will witness approximately 90% of the sun being blocked by the moon. Therefore, there will be no safe time to look directly at the sun without using proper eye protection.
Gallagher explains that even those in the path of totality will only have a few minutes where they can remove their glasses. For the rest of the time, including all partial phases, solar filters are necessary.
To address concerns about the cost of safety glasses, experts assure that inexpensive cardboard glasses with solar filters are sufficient. These glasses were widely used during the major solar eclipse in 2017 and can be obtained for free at libraries or events, or purchased at museums and science centers. However, it is crucial to ensure that the glasses conform to the Transmission Requirements of ISO 12312-2 Filters for Direct Observation of the Sun.
In addition to wearing safety glasses, there are other viewing options available. NASA recommends using indirect viewing methods, such as a pinhole projector. This simple device, made from cardboard, projects an image of the sun onto a nearby surface through a small hole. By standing with the sun at your back, you can safely view the projected image without looking directly at the sun.
The Great American Eclipse of 2024 is set to occur on April 8, and certain parts of the United States, Mexico, and Canada will experience total darkness for nearly four minutes during daylight hours. Cities along the path of totality include Dallas, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Burlington, Vermont, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Erie. Although New Jersey will not be in the path of totality, approximately 90% of the sun will be blocked by the moon for over an hour in the late afternoon on April 8.
Gallagher provides specific timings for New Jersey residents, stating that the moon will begin crossing the sun at 2:09 p.m., reach maximum darkness at 3:24 p.m., and complete its transit at 4:35 p.m. She reminds everyone that the sun will never be completely blocked by the moon during this eclipse, so solar filters must be used throughout the event.
The total solar eclipse will commence over the South Pacific Ocean and traverse sections of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The first location in continental North America to experience totality will be Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. The eclipse will then move through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also witness the total solar eclipse. In Canada, the eclipse will be visible in southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton.
As long as the weather permits and keeps the clouds away, the eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.
In conclusion, experts are urging the public to prioritize their eye safety during the 2024 solar eclipse by wearing cardboard safety glasses with protective filters. These glasses are necessary for both direct viewing and photography. While many regions will not experience a total solar eclipse, it is crucial to wear solar filters throughout the event. Inexpensive cardboard glasses with proper certifications are suitable for this purpose. Additionally, alternative viewing methods like pinhole projectors can be used to indirectly view the eclipse. The Great American Eclipse of 2024 will provide a unique opportunity for residents in certain parts of the United States, Mexico, and Canada to witness this celestial event.
