The total solar eclipse in April 2024 will be the last eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. Here’s how to prepare for it
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Solar eclipse glasses.
It’s time to add another pair of sunglasses to your collection!
But this pair isn’t for fashion purposes; rather, it’s for protection when viewing the total solar eclipse expected to occur in April 2024.
Consider the last time a total solar eclipse was visible from the United States, in April 2017, when NASA advised viewers to view the astronomical phenomenon with special eye protection. This year is no different!
The space agency recommends protective goggles for those who want to catch a glimpse of this highly anticipated event, especially the pre- and post-totality phases (when the moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face).
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Even if there is no astronomical event causing people to look directly at the sun, doctors recommend people wear good sunglasses in bright weather; That’s because, as NASA warns, viewing “any part of the sun” without a special-purpose solar filter fixed to the front of the optic will “immediately cause serious eye injury.”
However, it is important to note that the protective glasses that the agency recommends for use to view a solar eclipse are not the same as regular sunglasses. Additionally, it should not be used when viewed through a camera, binoculars or telescope.
Read on for what you need to know about NASA’s recommended glasses for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse, including when and where to buy them.
What is a solar eclipse?
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The solar eclipse was viewed from China in January 2010.
According to NASA, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth. During an eclipse, the moon enters different phases.
At just the right moment, a total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, completely blocking out its bright light. Other times, a partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon covers only part of the sunlight.
A total solar eclipse is a sight to behold if the astronomical phenomenon can be seen from your position on Earth. The solar eclipse that will be visible in the United States in April 2024 is expected to occur at noon, resulting in a few minutes of darkness during the day.
“If you want to experience total darkness during an eclipse, you need to be on the path of totality,” NASA reported. “It can be confusing if you don’t know what it is. Animals can be confused too!”
Related: All About October’s Solar Eclipse and What It Means for Your Zodiac Sign
When will the solar eclipse occur in 2024?
The upcoming solar eclipse falls on Monday, April 8, 2024. The exact timing depends on where viewers are located in North America and where the event will take place once it begins over the South Pacific Ocean.
According to NASA, “Weather permitting, the first place on the North American continent to experience totality is the Pacific coast of Mexico around 11:07 a.m. PDT.” It will then enter the US in Texas.
It then travels through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, as well as small parts of Michigan and Tennessee. (Those who want to experience a total solar eclipse should look at exactly where their state is in the path of totality; many well-located towns are hosting events to celebrate!)
The eclipse will enter Canada after passing the United States. It will exit the North American continent on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 17:16 NDT.
What are solar eclipse glasses?
George Frey/Getty
A couple wearing solar eclipse glasses watches the October 2023 solar eclipse from Utah.
Solar eclipse glasses are special glasses recommended by NASA for viewing solar eclipses and are specially made from materials that enable safe viewing of the sun.
“Solar eclipse glasses use lenses made of black polymer, a flexible resin infused with carbon particles,” according to the Planetary Society’s website. “They are approximately 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses and block almost all visible light, as well as all infrared and ultraviolet light.”
Eclipse glasses are not the only type of protective eyewear recommended for spectators to use. If you can’t wear a pair of glasses, handheld solar imaging devices are another option.
NASA states that it “does not endorse any particular brand of sunglasses.” (The American Astronomical Society has a list of reputable vendors on its site.) But NASA emphasizes that people hoping to look directly at the sun should wear a pair because regular sunglasses “are not safe for sun viewing.” Eclipse.
Is it mandatory to wear solar eclipse glasses?
As a way to prevent eye damage from the sun, solar eclipse glasses and handheld solar trackers are highly recommended by NASA to view this phenomenon during its partial phases. But if you don’t want to buy and wear this equipment, there are other ways to watch.
NASA offers an indirect viewing method that does not require looking directly at the sun. For example, using a pinhole projector is one way for viewers to experience the eclipse.
A pinhole projector has a small aperture (like a hole punched in an index card) and projects the image of the sun onto a nearby surface. The space agency says viewers can “safely view the projected image” by turning their faces away from the sun. (To do Negative Look at the sun through the eye of a needle!)
There is also a brief window of totality (when the moon completely covers the sun) during which NASA states the eclipse will be visible “without proper eye protection.” The only safe time is when “you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or sunglasses.”
Related: Fly Along the Path of Totality During April’s Total Solar Eclipse on This Delta Flight
Where and when to buy solar eclipse glasses?
PHOTOGRAPHY/Getty
A couple watches the solar eclipse with protective glasses from El Salvador in October 2023.
So what exactly are you looking for to make sure you get the right type of glasses?
According to NASA, “Safety sunglasses are thousands of times darker and must comply with the international standard ISO 12312-2.”
The space agency links to a resource page of vetted companies that manufacture and sell safe solar imagers and filters for binoculars and telescopes; According to NASA, these vendors have “demonstrated” that the products they sell “meet the safety requirements” of the above standard.
The source page does not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu or any other online marketplace and buying from the seller offering the lowest price. Before making an online purchase, check that the seller’s ” [NASA] area.”
As for when you should buy your solar eclipse glasses, Forbes recommends buying them now. The reason for this is that as April 8 approaches, the demand for the product will increase and as a result, prices are likely to increase.
“Prices for solar eclipse glasses have increased 27% online since the last solar eclipse in North America on Oct. 16, according to e-commerce accelerator Pattern,” the outlet reported on March 7. , prices will likely increase from here.
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