Solar eclipses are exciting natural phenomena that always bring out lots of awed viewers. If you want to witness a solar eclipse, you need to be careful to do it safely. Since there’s one coming up on Monday, August 21, we thought we’d share the following five tips for watching a solar eclipse to ensure you do it safely and get the best vantage.
Wear Safety Glasses
One of the most important tips for watching a solar eclipse is that you should never look directly at it without wearing solar viewing glasses to protect your eyes. There are specially designed glasses you can use to safely watch the total progress of the moon in front of the sun. These are inexpensive and can be found easily online, and likely at many of your town’s local shops as this year’s eclipse date grows nearer.
Taking off the Glasses
During a total solar eclipse, you can take the glasses off when the moon has completely covered the sun. This is a rare event, but it is an otherworldly experience to see an eerie darkness fall over day during a total solar eclipse. You definitely will want to take the glasses off to see a total solar eclipse with your own eyes. Just make sure to put the glasses on as soon as the sun starts to come out from behind the moon to avoid damaging your eyes.
Check the Weather
Especially for big solar eclipses, one of the most important tips for watching a solar eclipse is to check the weather carefully. You want to track the weather in the days leading up to the eclipse to ensure you are in a good location with clear skies.
Find the Best Location
You may want to consider traveling to find a better viewing location if the eclipse is not total in your area. Sometimes a journey of a few hours can mean a much better viewing experience.
Contact a Local Astronomy Club
Sharing the joy of viewing a solar eclipse makes it a lot more fun. One of the best tips for watching a solar eclipse is to go to a viewing party hosted by a local astronomy club. If there isn’t one in your area, start one and host your own solar eclipse viewing party in your backyard, local park, or other accessible area that has room enough to share.
Featured Image from Karl Magnuson/Unsplash
