SIDNEY — The sun will be obscured on Monday, Aug. 21, near 2:28 p.m. for a few minutes, as a total solar eclipse traces a path from Oregon to North Carolina.
The total eclipse has returned after 26 years, and won’t be back for another seven, when it is expected pass directly over Ohio. No solar eclipse of this scale has been visible in the U.S. since 1918, creating excitement in the astronomy community, but only 87 percent of the sun will be covered for those who don’t chase the eclipse and remain in Shelby County.
A group of honors students and members of the Biology Club from Ohio State Lima will experience the total solar eclipse in Kentucky during a trip to Mammoth Cave. Dr. Tony Shoup, a senior lecturer in physics at Ohio State Lima warned of the dangers the eclipse poses in a press release.
“It is well known that looking directly at the sun for more than a second or so, can permanently damage your eyes. So always be very careful (even without an eclipse),” Shoup said. “One way to view the eclipse without safety solar filters/glasses is to use a simple pin-hole camera. In this case, you will be viewing a projection of the sun/moon onto a surface.”
NASA is offering a free download of 2D and 3D pinhole projectors on their eclipse website, eclipse2017.nasa.gov.
NASA reminds viewers that it is never safe to look at the sun with a naked eye, even if it is partially covered by the moon. The only time the solar eclipse can be viewed with the naked eye would be in the path of totality during the totality. Anyone in Shelby County should not take off their glasses when viewing the eclipse, even when it is almost fully covered. Common ways to view is through a no. 14 or darker welder’s glass, with aluminized Mylar specifically manufactured for solar observation or with a pinhole camera.
Not following these precautions could lead to solar retinopathy, according to NASA. The condition is a result of too much ultraviolet light in the retina. It can cause blindness, but it is rare because of how long of an exposure that requires. Typically, it manifests in blurred vision, dark or yellow spots, pain in bright light or loss of vision in the center of the eye. There are no pain receptors in the retina, so it can be damaged before the viewer even realize it, and by then it is too late.
NASA recommends glasses that follow the designated international standard, or ISO 12312-2. Glasses that don’t follow these standards aren’t strong enough, or were made before the new code took place. Eclipse glasses made before 2015 are only recommended for 3 minutes of use, and no glasses should be used it they are older than three years or are scratched or wrinkled.
Approved glasses are for sale at Lowe’s, Amazon and Walmart, or in the Armstrong Air and Space Museum store in Wapakoneta, but Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine offered a word of warning on Tuesday in a press release.
“Ohioans of all ages are intrigued by the upcoming solar eclipse, but safety needs to be a priority to avoid permanent eye damage,” said Attorney General DeWine. “We want consumers to be informed before buying solar eclipse glasses.”
Recalls have confused consumers, as the glasses often still say they follow guidelines. Piqua Public Library issued a statement on Monday asking library patrons to not use the 80 pairs of glasses the library had given out before Amazon issued a recall.
“We did our very best to make sure our glasses met all of these qualifications, but unfortunately the manufacturer let us down, with a counterfeit product,” said library director James Oda.
Some other safety precautions also apply to the eclipse. Photographers of all skill levels should take precautions before shooting the eclipse. There are several options for people shooting with cell phones, as their lenses are small and have a low likelihood of suffering damage. Larger lenses, such as professional equipment, require protection like a solar filter. An article from NASA, found on their eclipse website, gives details on how to modify cell phones for solar photography. Those with professional equipment should not look through their viewfinder without a solar filter, as it will be just as bright.
While anyone in North America will be able to see some sort of eclipse, only those directly between Oregon and North Carolina will see a total eclipse. If a day trip is in your plans, good spots for watching the eclipse include Carbondale, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; or Nashville, Tennessee.
Locally, there will be a solar eclipse watch party at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton and several local libraries. Many of these libraries have received free eclipse glasses and education kits from The Gordon and Betty Moor Foundation, Research Corporation and Google. Libraries hosting eclipse parties include:
• Amos Memorial Library. They are holding an eclipse viewing party at Julia Lamb Park from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Eclipse glasses will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Stallo Memorial Library. They are holding a viewing party at the Four Seasons Park in Minster from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. They are providing glasses, crafts and refreshments, with advanced registration.
• New Knoxville Library. They are holding a solar eclipse party from 2 to 4 p.m. and will be providing glasses and other activities for those who register in advance.
• Logan County Library. They are holding a “sun block party” for all ages at the Knowlton branch. They are providing glasses, water and popsicles.
• Tipp City library. They are holding a viewing party at the Zion Lutheran Church Front Lawn from 1 to 2:30 p.m., with 75 pairs of glasses on a first come first serve basis. They will also be handing out souvenir button badges.
• Milton-Union Public Library. They are hosting a solar eclipse program starting at 9:30 a.m. with Ron and Joan Wagner of the Stillwater Stargazers, who will discuss the why and how of eclipses, the 90 percent eclipse of this area, various viewing options, safety, and answer questions afterwards. They will also bring Hydrogen Alpha, a special filter for viewing the sun and white light solar telescopes.
• Ohio State Lima. At the Dean’s Convocation and Picnic on the Ohio State Lima Quad, freshman students, faculty and staff will experience the eclipse.
The eclipse can also be watched online at eclipse.stream.live. Total solar eclipses happen every 18 months on average, but are only viewable by less than half a percent of the earth’s surface. Shelby County residents are in luck when it comes to clouds. Late August is on record as being less cloudy than the rest of the year, with overcast to mostly cloudy skies only appearing 31 percent of the time.
