The Moon’s about to crash the Sun’s party! Will you be watching? I know I will, and I hope your family will, too. To be sure everyone has what they need to safely enjoy this special celestial event, here are some tips. But, first, let’s review some science and go over what’s actually happening.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be a solar eclipse. The Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. The Moon is about 400 times smaller than the Sun, but it’s also about 400 times closer to the Earth. That match-up makes this cosmic confluence visible.
Here in Virginia, we’ll experience a partial eclipse. The Moon will be covering some portion of the Sun from about 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The peak viewing time in Richmond will be around 3:19 p.m. when the Moon will block about 83 percent of the Sun. If you remember the solar eclipse Richmond experienced in August 2017, this year’s will be slightly less than what we saw then.
Parts of the US will enjoy a total eclipse where, for a few minutes, the Moon will block 100 percent of the Sun. That approximately 120-mile-wide path of totality will stretch from Texas to the eastern Great Lakes and into northern New England.
April 8 Eclipse and Viewing Safety
Here’s some important information about viewing the solar eclipse: Your family should only watch if you have proper eye protection. While a portion of the sun will be covered during the eclipse, it’s still bright enough to damage unprotected human eyes.
Sunglasses are not proper eye protection for viewing the eclipse. Using sunglasses to watch the eclipse can cause irreparable damage.
Certified eclipse glasses, viewers, or filters made specifically for watching the sun are the best way to safely observe the eclipse directly. These have special polymer lenses that block almost all infrared, UV, and visible light.
Here’s how you can tell if your eclipse glasses can do the important job of protecting your eyes:
- Get them from a reputable source. The American Astronomical Society maintains a list of reliable sellers. I recommend checking your favorite science museum’s gift shop (wink, wink).
- Look for the ISO certification 12312-2. Make sure you check the numbers carefully and that they are in that exact order.
- Inspect the lenses to ensure they aren’t scratched, torn or punctured, and are firmly attached to the frame. Don’t touch the lens or crumple the glasses. Oil from fingers or creases will weaken the protection.
- Test them inside. Try looking through them at a shaded lamp. Certified eclipse glasses should block so much light that you won’t see anything. Try again looking at a bare lightbulb. You may see it faintly, but most of the light should be blocked out. If indoor lights look bright through your eclipse glasses, they aren’t safe to observe the Sun.
- If they pass every other test, take a quick glance at the Sun through your eclipse glasses. You should be able to see the Sun, but nothing else. If it looks too bright to look at for an extended period of time, or is surrounded by a bright halo, replace the glasses.
- Maybe glasses aren’t your idea of a stellar look (see what I did there?!). Maybe your family will use your telescope to enjoy the eclipse. Yay for having a telescope but guess what … you need protection for that, too. A solar filter goes on the end where light enters the telescope, and it does basically the same thing eclipse glasses do: protects human eyes (and your telescope) from Sun damage.
- Just as with the eclipse glasses, get your solar filter from a reputable source and make sure you get one made specifically to fit your exact telescope. Don’t forget about cameras, phones and binoculars—they’ll need filters, too! Looking at the Sun through any device that concentrates light without a solar filter could cause severe eye injury and risks damaging your device.
- Now, there’s one last part about viewing the eclipse: the weather. That’s right: eclipse glasses and solar filters aren’t going to do you any good if it’s cloudy on April 8. The only way you’ll be able to see the eclipse is if we have a clear, sunny day. I’m an astronomer, not a meteorologist so I can’t help with that part.
- Ok, let’s review. The partial eclipse we’ll see in Richmond on April 8 will be awesome and your family should definitely watch it if–and only if–everyone has the proper eye protection to do so.
- A solar eclipse doesn’t happen every day. This is a chance to make a lasting memory together. Hey, you never know, enjoying the eclipse with your kiddos might inspire them to become the Science Museum’s next beloved astronomer.
Other Ways to View the April 8 Eclipse
Maybe glasses aren’t your idea of a stellar look (see what I did there?!). Maybe your family will use your telescope to enjoy the eclipse. Yay for having a telescope but guess what – you need protection for that, too. A solar filter goes on the end where light enters the telescope, and it does basically the same thing eclipse glasses do: protects human eyes (and your telescope) from Sun damage.
Just as with the eclipse glasses, get your solar filter from a reputable source and make sure you get one made specifically to fit your exact telescope. Don’t forget about cameras, phones and binoculars—they’ll need filters, too! Looking at the Sun through any device that concentrates light without a solar filter could cause severe eye injury and risks damaging your device.
Now, there’s one last part about viewing the eclipse: the weather. That’s right: eclipse glasses and solar filters aren’t going to do you any good if it’s cloudy on April 8. The only way you’ll be able to see the eclipse is if we have a clear, sunny day. I’m an astronomer, not a meteorologist so I can’t help with that part.
Ok, let’s review. The partial eclipse we’ll see in Richmond on April 8 will be awesome and your family should definitely watch it if–and only if–everyone has the proper eye protection to do so.
A solar eclipse doesn’t happen every day. This is a chance to make a lasting memory together. Hey, you never know, enjoying the eclipse with your kiddos might inspire them to become the Science Museum’s next beloved astronomer.
