NEW YORK (PIX11) – If you plan to view the once-in-a-generation solar eclipse on Monday, you’ll need to have specialized eye protection to safely do so.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon lines up between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and darkening the sky. It will be the first total solar eclipse in New York State in 99 years.
People wear solar viewing glasses while looking at the sun during a solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. (Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Looking at the sun during the solar eclipse without specialized protection, such as eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer, would be harmful to your eyes – except during the brief phase of the eclipse when the moon is completely blocking the sun, according to NASA.
“View the sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality. You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face,” NASA’s website says. “As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun.”
Regular sunglasses are not a safe alternative to eclipse glasses, NASA warned, and safe solar viewers “ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.”
Like NASA, New York State officials also recommend using ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses.
Gov. Kathy Hochul launched a statewide effort to distribute limited-edition “I LOVE NY” eclipse glasses at 30 locations throughout New York, including Moynihan Train Hall in New York City and the Long Island Welcome Center in Dix Hills. The glasses were approved by the New York State Department of Health and carry an ISO certification, according to officials.
A woman looks through a solar viewer during an annular solar eclipse in California on Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)For those unable to get a pair of the limited-edition glasses, New York State officials suggested visiting the American Astronomical Society’s website for ways to purchase glasses from a trusted source.
NASA offered additional safety guidelines for viewing the solar eclipse. It advised people to inspect their eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before using them to make sure they aren’t torn, scratched or damaged.
NASA also outlined some indirect methods to view the solar eclipse for those who aren’t able to obtain eclipse glasses or handheld viewers.
Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.
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