- Millions of Americans are expected to watch Monday's total solar eclipse.
- Staring at the eclipse or taking a photo without the proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.
Millions of Americans will direct their attention toward the heavens as the moon darkens the sky and blocks the sun's light during Monday's total solar eclipse.
But do not be tempted by the moon's perceived protection and risk solar retinopathy or serious and potentially blinding damage to your eyes. You could wind up with a permanent reminder of a dumb decision — one you will never be able to look away from.
The risk of solar retinopathy is heightened during solar eclipses, Space.com reported, because the diminished brightness of the sky makes it more comfortable to stare at the sun. This means people may miss the warning signs — like rapid blinking or eye discomfort — that normally come with gazing at a ball of gas burning at 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
You may be thinking: "Well, former President Donald Trump looked at the eclipse in 2017, and he seems fine, so I will probably be OK too."
You will not be.
You might also think that the earthquake in New Jersey is somehow connected to the eclipse or that normal, natural phenomena are somehow unpredictable and/or rare.
God is sending America strong signs to tell us to repent.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) April 5, 2024
Earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come.
I pray that our country listens.
They are not.
According to NASA, although the brief total phase of the eclipse — when the moon completely blocks out the sun — is safe to look at, the sun's light will shine throughout most of the duration of the eclipse as the moon passes in front of it.
However, this directive specifically applies to people in the path of totality, which in the case of this eclipse, runs diagonally across the country from Texas to Maine.
Most Americans, like Trump in 2017, will be outside that path when the eclipse occurs. Outside that path, there will be no safe time to look at the sun with your bare eyes.
Coastal elites: You have been warned.
And don't even think about looking at the sun with a glass viewing lens that doesn't have a "special-purpose solar filter," NASA says. That will cause "severe eye injury."
That means no staring at the eclipse through the viewfinder or lens of your camera, and no looking at the sun with binoculars or a telescope — unless you have purchased and installed a special solar filter. Without that filter, the lens could concentrate the sun's radiation directly into your eyeball.
It's like when a bored yet nefarious child sets an ant on fire with a magnifying glass — except in this scenario, the ant is your eyes.
You do not want your eyeballs to be the ant.
Instead, use the digital preview function on your camera.
For looking straight at the eclipse, NASA says solar viewing glasses — "eclipse glasses" — or a safe handheld solar viewer are the way to go. And NASA doesn't care how cool your shades look — sunglasses are nowhere near protective enough.
The American Astronomical Society has a list of approved eye protection for the eclipse and warns consumers to steer clear of potential counterfeits. If your Temu mom shows up with a package of eclipse glasses, you may want to take them away from her.
"We do not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu, or any other online marketplace and buying from whichever vendor offers the lowest price," the AAS writes. "Before you buy a solar viewer or filter online, we recommend that you make sure that (1) the seller is identified on the site and (2) the seller is listed on this page."
Then, of course, there's the ever-present danger of skin cancer. Even with the moon creeping in front of it, the sun is still bombarding you with UV radiation that can increase your risk of melanoma or (gasp!) the appearance of aging on your skin.
So, just like any other day, don't forget to wear sunscreen.
And don't count on the clouds to protect your skin. Though they reduce the light you can see, they do nothing to block the invisible UV radiation that does the damage.