Don’t watch eclipse with naked eye, unapproved devices

DO NOT watch the solar eclipse today (August 21) with the naked eye, or with unapproved lenses or other devices!

That is the warning released this morning by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM).

“Different phases of the eclipse will be visible in Road Town, British Virgin Islands, from 2:14pm to 4:47pm.”

“The different phases of the eclipse are expected to span over two hours and 33 minutes,” DDM further said, adding that the eclipse is a rare event.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States, in the meantime, issued the following tips on how one can view the solar eclipse:Always inspect your solar filter before use. If scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.

-Always supervise children using solar filters.

-Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter. Do not remove it while looking at the sun.

-Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.

-Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer. The concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.

-Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device. Note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.

-If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases.

-Outside the path of totality, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly.

-If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

Photo Credit: NASA