On Monday, April 8th, we’ll witness a very rare astronomical phenomenon. This total solar eclipse will cover all of North America, starting in Mexico, passing through the United States, and ending in Canada.
It’s been many years since a phenomenon of this magnitude has occurred, and as a curious fact, it’s been 7 years since something like this was seen in the United States. These types of eclipses occur when the Earth‘s nodes, the moon, and the sun align perfectly, causing the moon to completely cover the sun, thus darkening the Earth for the duration of the phenomenon.
We’re excited about the event and can’t wait to see it, but we must take precautions to avoid damaging our eyes. Despite the darkness, looking directly at the eclipse can harm our retinas.
Why Should We Use Special Glasses To View the Eclipse?
The sun’s rays are so strong that looking directly at them (even with the moon in front) can damage our retinas. It’s also not recommended to view the eclipse through camera lenses, binoculars, or telescopes, so it’s necessary to have special glasses, as per the American Astrological Society. That’s why NASA recommends that all skygazers have safety equipment.
Using simple sunglasses is not enough, so you should wear appropriate and certified eyewear that is 100,000 times darker to better filter the ultraviolet rays. Often made with a polyester film coated in aluminum, these glasses are highly specialized, quite common, and easy to acquire. Living in the Amazon era where everything is searchable and purchasable, you can find these special glasses on websites such as GreatAmericanEclipse.com and NationalEclipse.com, as well as on Amazon and American Paper Optics, the nation’s largest supplier of eclipse glasses, which even offers express shipping across the country.
