Upcoming “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse Has Experts Issuing a Safety Warning
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Even people who are only casually interested in science and astronomy know that being able to witness a solar eclipse is a special event. Despite being a relatively rare occurrence in and of themselves, viewers also have to be in the right place at the right time to get the full effect. But unlike traditional stargazing or looking up at the moon, they also involve some potentially serious health risks if people aren’t careful. Now, experts just issued a safety warning ahead of a “ring of fire” solar eclipse that will take place in a few weeks. Read on to see how you can protect yourself during the must-see event.
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Even after an exciting summer of memorable meteor showers and a once-in-a-lifetime comet fly-by , there are still more astronomical events to look forward to on the horizon. Arguably, the most anticipated is an annular solar eclipse that will be visible across parts of the U.S. on Oct. 14, according to NASA.
While many people are familiar with the idea of a total solar eclipse in which the moon entirely blocks out the sun as it passes between it and the Earth, an annular eclipse creates a somewhat different viewing experience. Since it occurs at the point when the moon is farthest from our planet in its orbit, it only partially covers the brilliant burning disc overhead and creates a dazzling “ring of fire” in the sky as sunlight pokes around the edges, according to NASA.
Viewers across the U.S. will be able to see at least a partial covering of the sun, but it’s those who live in the path of annularity who will get the full effect. The spectacle should first become visible around 8 a.m. local time on the Oregon coast, passing down through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, according to NASA.
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Of course, watching any kind of solar event requires an extra level of preparation by getting the correct type of eyewear. Solar viewing glasses are necessary to protect your eyes from the sun’s powerful rays—especially during an annular eclipse, which doesn’t have the fleeting minutes-long window of totality that makes it briefly safe to look up during a total eclipse, per NASA.
The excitement leading up to the memorable event has led many eager viewers to order their own pairs in preparation. But before you step outside and look up, experts are cautioning that you should double-check that you’re actually protected.
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It’s not every day that we make a point to actively stare at the sun. But if you’re not careful, experts say using the wrong safety equipment could quickly lead to serious injury .
Those who forgo the safety equipment can sometimes be left with lasting problems. “There are many cases of patients having permanent damage,” Mai warns. “Generally, this is a temporary cause of vision loss, but we want to prevent all kinds of eye damage at all costs. We always recommend wearing solar eclipse-approved sunglasses.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time the potentially risky products have been an issue. Counterfeit and fake solar viewers also flooded the market leading up to the total solar eclipse during the summer of 2017, ABC News reported.
RELATED: 8 Amazing Things You Can See in the Night Sky Without a Telescope .
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If you’re planning on watching the annular eclipse, experts recommend going the extra mile to ensure you’ve got bonafide safety glasses ahead of Oct. 14. According to NASA, certified pairs will comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard and be printed with the ISO logo on them. But since some fakes will falsely make these claims, being certain might come down to where you shop.
“The only way you can be sure that they’re not fake glasses is to buy them from a reliable source,” Fred Espenak , a retired NASA astrophysicist and photographer, told ABC News in 2017.
Fortunately, NASA has provided a list of trusted manufacturers and suppliers for solar filters and viewing glasses recognized by the American Astronomical Society (AAS). The agency emphasizes that it doesn’t approve or endorse any eyewear itself and that anyone shopping online should take time to check that the seller is listed on the webpage before making the purchase. It also notes that some large national retail chains will also likely have them in stock on shelves.
And if you’re reusing a pair from previous eclipses, you still may want to check you’re not putting yourself in harm’s way. Even though protective viewing filters don’t degrade or expire over time, any scratched or damaged glasses must be thrown away, per NASA.
- Source: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2332/new-nasa-map-details-2023-and-2024-solar-eclipses-in-the-us/
- Source: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/
- Source: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/safety/
- Source: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters
The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says
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Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a devoted amateur astronomer, there’s no denying that there’s something special about witnessing a rare celestial event like a solar eclipse. Besides the fact that they only occur a few times each decade, getting a good view can come down to where you live having the right weather conditions. If you’d love to witness a solar eclipse anytime soon, you may want to mark off your calendars. NASA says the next one will be the last you can see from the U.S. until 2044. Read on for more info on how to catch this unique event.
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If catching a major cosmic event has been an item on your bucket list, you might want to grab your calendar . On Apr. 8, 2024, North America will have front-row seats to a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017. But besides being a relatively rare event in and of itself, this will also be the last opportunity to view a full eclipse from within the contiguous United States until Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
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Even though many areas across the U.S. will be treated to at least a partial eclipse, only places that are in the total eclipse’s direct path will get to experience the moon entirely blocking out the sun . The first sight of totality on the continent will start on Mexico’s Pacific Coast before it becomes visible stateside around noon in Texas, according to NASA. From there, the path will continue north through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before leaving the U.S. in the late afternoon.
Viewers in Canada will be able to experience the eclipse as it begins its path through Southern Ontario and eventually makes its way through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will disappear from North America as it passes off the East Coast of Canada in the early evening.
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So long as weather conditions remain favorable, part of what makes the experience of a total solar eclipse so special is the truly unique conditions it can create for those in its path. During the initial partial eclipse phase—or for those watching in areas outside of the total eclipse’s path—viewers will first notice a crescent blocking out part of the sun as the moon slightly covers the star while wearing the appropriate safety glasses, according to NASA.
For a few fleeting moments before the sun is covered, spectators might also be able to catch sight of Baily’s Beads, which are glimmers of light that form bright spots as sunlight passes through crags, craters, and valleys on the moon. A sharp, bright spot on the edge of the moon’s shadow known as the “diamond ring” will then appear, named for its resemblance to a sparkling piece of jewelry.
The moment the sun is completely blocked out is known as “totality,” marking the only point of the experience you can watch directly without protective glasses. Spectators might be able to make out different parts of the sun’s atmosphere, including a pink ring created by the star’s chromosphere or rays of white light from the corona. But while the view above is spectacular, sights on the ground can be just as surreal as conditions can create “a 360-degree sunset,” planets and bright stars can become briefly visible, the air temperature can drop, and “often an eerie silence will settle around you,” NASA describes.
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If you’re already excited to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial event for the last time until 2044, it might not be a bad idea to start preparing for the experience. Arguably most importantly, NASA warns you’ll need the correct specially designed safe solar viewing glasses or handheld viewer to actually be able to see it . Otherwise, you’ll need to use an indirect viewing technique, such as a pinhole projector.
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” the space agency warns, clarifying that normal sunglasses won’t offer sufficient protection. “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
And besides ensuring you have the proper equipment, you might also want to consider arranging a place to stay if you have to travel to witness the event. Cities along the path of totality will likely see a large influx of tourists scooping up available lodging, with Ross saying organizers expect anywhere between 375,000 to 500,000 people to descend upon Rochester alone.
“We’ve been starting to spread the word really since 2019 by meeting and also kind of designating everyone as an eclipse ambassador, so everyone watching right now, get ready because all of your out-of-town relatives are coming here [and] they’re gonna want to stay in your house,” Ross told WROC.
