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Eye safety urged for April 8 solar eclipse

By Jess Mancini 6 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Don't look directly at the solar eclipse in April without the proper eye protection, a local amateur astronomer who gives workshops on stargazing said.

"They absolutely, positively have to have the proper solar glasses," John Dennis said. "And there won't be any time during the eclipse that they can take them off."

The solar eclipse will occur on April 8 and will be visible in this area in the afternoon, starting shortly before 2 p.m. and ending around 4:30 p.m. with the maximum amount of the eclipse at around 3:15, according to the National Solar Observatory. In the Mid-Ohio Valley, totality will be about 95%.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is between the sun and the earth. At totality, the corona of the sun is visible.

Lookers here won't see the corona, he said. A little bit of the sun won't be blocked by the moon, Dennis said.

Yet, that's still an enormous amount of light from the sun with its ultraviolet and infrared rays for the naked eye to safely observe even if it's cloudy, Dennis said. Damage could result to the eye without protection, such as solar glasses or filters for telescopes, he said.

"Clouds don't block infrared rays and ultraviolet rays," Dennis said.

Safety is paramount, he said.

The rating for the glasses or filters is ISO 12312-2, a standard that while blocking all but a fraction of the harmful rays, is safe for viewing, he said. Without protection, the invisible rays cause damage, like getting a sunburn on a cloudy day, Dennis said.

"If the glasses have that number, they are acceptable for a solar eclipse," he said.

Solar glasses can be purchased online, but people should make sure they have the correct ISO rating for looking into the sun, Dennis said.

Also, eclipse glasses will be available for a small donation in preparation for the solar eclipse from the Marietta College Anderson Hancock Planetarium.

Solar filters must be properly installed on cameras, telescopes and binoculars, he said

"If using a camera, telescope or binoculars, the solar filter must be placed between the camera/scope/binoculars and the sun," Dennis said. "Do not put the solar glasses over your eyes and look through an unfiltered camera, scope or binoculars."

Another method to watch is to project the image of the eclipse through a pinhole to the back of a box, Dennis said. Numerous websites are available on how to make the box, he said.

"They're not hard to make," he said. "You can even make them with a cereal box."

Dennis plans to travel west into the path of the eclipse to view its totality, perhaps in the Indianapolis area. That, too, requires pre-planning and patience, he said.

The urge is to leave as soon as the eclipse has concluded, Dennis said. The problem is everyone else, perhaps thousands of people who had the same idea, wants to leave when it's done, causing traffic jams that can last for hours, he said.

Dennis said he speaks from experience from a previous total eclipse in 2017.

"Take your time and wait before leaving for several hours," he said. "Even get a hotel room and stay the night."

Websites also will be available to watch the eclipse in real time, Dennis said. They can be found with a simple Google search, he said.

Streamed views will be available from different points in the path of the total eclipse, providing a non-stop view of the celestial event, he said.

April's total solar eclipse will be the last for the contiguous United States until 2044, according to NASA.

"This is our last big one for a while," Dennis said.

The path in April will be from Mexico across Texas to Maine and into Canada. The swath will be about 110 miles wide, the National Solar Observatory said.

Among the cities where totality will be best seen are five near the Mid-Ohio Valley: Vincennes, Ind., Indianapolis, Lima and Cleveland in Ohio and Erie, Pa.

Totality will last about 4 minutes, Dennis said.

An interactive map is available at https://nso.edu/for-public/eclipse-map-2024/ where the location can be clicked for the viewing times. In this region, the eclipse will start at 1:57 p.m., will be at maximum at 3:14 p.m. and end at 4:28 p.m.

NASA also has a map showing times based on location at https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when.

Dennis is a retired registered nurse from WVU Medicine Camden Clark and has a degree in biology and general science from Fairmont State University. He is a member of the board of the Central Appalachia Astronomy Club in Clarksburg, a member of the Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society and is working with the board of Calhoun County Park to get an international Dark Sky designation.

He conducts workshops in astronomy at the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Williamstown, where he is a member of the board of the Friends of the Wildlife Center.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

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Eclipse Activities in the Mid-Ohio Valley

* An Eclipse Party is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at The Beverly Branch of the Washington County Public Library, 300 McIntosh St., Beverly, in preparation for the April 8 eclipse. There will be crafts and games set up around the library for everyone to enjoy at their own pace. The event is open to all ages, and no registration is required.

* At 6 p.m. Tuesday, NASA Solar System Ambassador Program volunteer Tyler Hines will join the Beverly branch of the library at Riverbend Family Dining, 415 Fifth St., Beverly, to discuss the newest news from NASA and prepare people for the eclipse. A drink and appetizer will be provided. This event is for teens and adults. No registration is required.

* On Friday, March 29, the Family Book Club, designed for second-graders or older and their families, will meet from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Barlow Branch of the library, 45 White Oak Professional Center, Vincent. They will be reading and discussing two graphic novels, "Stargazing" and "Lo & Behold." People can call the library to register and reserve a copy of the books. Attendees who participate in the book club will receive a pair of eclipse glasses.

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